OTHER METHODS OF DEALING WITH HEROIN USE

To the Editor:

On Long Island, new laws will notify schools, churches and other
organizations about heroin arrests and immunize the notifiers from
any possible lawsuits. While I understand the desire to do something
following a personal tragedy (the loss of a child) and in the face of
growing use of a dangerous illegal drug, these attempts are likely to
be futile.

The better approach would be to notify the kids about the known
antidote to opiate overdose, Naloxone, and immunize anyone who
administers it, calls 911 and stays with the overdose victim until
the ambulance arrives. Certified training programs are available from
various harm reduction agencies in New York City, and they work.
These programs could be easily adapted for schools, churches and
other youth agencies.

Fears of "sending the wrong message" or "condoning illegal drug use"
will be overcome when we see our children survive inevitable drug
experimentation rather than die from a single indiscretion.

Daniel Hood

New York

The writer is an assistant professor of criminal justice at
Farmingdale State College.