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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsMaine Gov to Heroin Addicts - Drop Dead
What a total dick move ...
Gov. Paul LePage vetoed a bill Wednesday that would allow pharmacists to dispense an anti-overdose drug without a prescription, saying that allowing addicts to keep naloxone on hand serves only to perpetuate the cycle of addiction.
The Legislature passed the bill under the hammer or unanimously without a roll call this month as part of lawmakers attempts to address Maines growing opioid addiction epidemic.
....
The legislation would also allow police and fire departments to obtain a supply of naloxone and provides immunity to pharmacists or health care professionals who dispense the antidote when acting in good faith and with reasonable care.
But in his veto letter sent to lawmakers on Wednesday, LePage said the bill would allow pharmacists to dispense naloxone to practically anyone who asks for it.
Naloxone does not truly save lives; it merely extends them until the next overdose, LePage wrote, repeating a contention that has caused controversy before. Creating a situation where an addict has a heroin needle in one hand and a shot of naloxone in the other produces a sense of normalcy and security around heroin use that serves only to perpetuate the cycle of addiction.
Pharmacy chains such as Rite Aid and CVS already dispense naloxone without a prescription in other states. About 30 states allow sales of the drug without a prescription.
The Legislature passed the bill under the hammer or unanimously without a roll call this month as part of lawmakers attempts to address Maines growing opioid addiction epidemic.
....
The legislation would also allow police and fire departments to obtain a supply of naloxone and provides immunity to pharmacists or health care professionals who dispense the antidote when acting in good faith and with reasonable care.
But in his veto letter sent to lawmakers on Wednesday, LePage said the bill would allow pharmacists to dispense naloxone to practically anyone who asks for it.
Naloxone does not truly save lives; it merely extends them until the next overdose, LePage wrote, repeating a contention that has caused controversy before. Creating a situation where an addict has a heroin needle in one hand and a shot of naloxone in the other produces a sense of normalcy and security around heroin use that serves only to perpetuate the cycle of addiction.
Pharmacy chains such as Rite Aid and CVS already dispense naloxone without a prescription in other states. About 30 states allow sales of the drug without a prescription.
http://www.pressherald.com/2016/04/20/lepage-vetoes-bill-aimed-at-increasing-access-to-heroin-anti-overdose-drug/
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Maine Gov to Heroin Addicts - Drop Dead (Original Post)
salinsky
Apr 2016
OP
tymorial
(3,433 posts)1. I seriously despise that man
salinsky
(1,065 posts)5. He is a moral dumpster fire ... nt
Visionary
(54 posts)2. He's a republican huh
Republican....
Explains everything. This is the same type of thinking behind blocking access to sex education and contraception. "Oh if we teach them how to have safe sex and make contraception available they'll have more sex".
salinsky
(1,065 posts)4. I couldn't agree more ...
... The idea that the primary role of government is to facilitate the punishment of the unworthy, that's straight Republican worldview.
Octafish
(55,745 posts)3. Murderous bastard.
The guv thinks he's an Ubermensch.
47of74
(18,470 posts)6. Fuck you Paul LePage
You dumb son of a bitch four flushing piece of shit fuck nugget.