An overdose IS an accident

Posted 8/21/12

In The River Reporter article “A second look at heroin,” it is reported that information from the Center for Disease Control “said that for young people the leading cause of death in this …

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An overdose IS an accident

Posted

In The River Reporter article “A second look at heroin,” it is reported that information from the Center for Disease Control “said that for young people the leading cause of death in this country used to be accidents and injuries; now it’s drug overdoses.” A drug overdose is an accident. That is, unless a young person purposely seeks to commit suicide by taking a lethal dose of heroin and/or other drugs.

Perhaps we do not label heroin overdoses as drug accidents because taking heroin is a crime. Crimes are not accidents, but overdosing a drug/medication is an accident. Criminals behave dishonestly and are secretive to avoid detection and incarceration. As long as we continue to criminalize our young people for experimenting and becoming chemically dependent upon certain drugs, we rob them of their freedoms and futures and make it more difficult for them to accept help.

Anthony N. Biancoviso, Ph.D.

Counseling Psychologist

Barryville, NY

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