NARCAN: Choose life

I felt compelled to respond to Michael Murphy’s objection of the Post Falls PD now carrying Narcan spray to help save the lives of those who overdose on substances such as heroin. His complaint is that essentially, you’re enabling substance abuse if you repeatedly save addicts, and that “the public” is the one who pays the price for the Narcan.

Firstly, the price for each Narcan spray listed at $45, according to the July 11 article, is not paid for by taxpayers. As stated, KCSO pays for this with “drug-seizure funds” through a process known as civil forfeiture. This controversial process allows law enforcement to take assets from persons suspected of involvement with crime or illegal activity without necessarily charging them of wrongdoing, and can be massive revenue-drivers for police departments all over the country, so there’s more than enough funds for this.

Second, even if this gentleman decides to return to heroin as is often the case, I can tell you if he were my father, or someone close, I would absolutely want our local emergency responders to save him if it were within their ability through something as simple as $45 nasal spray. The heroin epidemic is a national problem, and when a war on drugs can’t solve it, we need to be looking at more effective and humane measures as Police Chief Scott Haug did.

“Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is within your power to act.” — Proverbs 3:27

CLINT GOLUB

Coeur d’Alene