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* “Customers line up for heroin in the 3700 block of West Grenshaw on June 16, 2015″…

* From the accompanying story…

With about 200 people dying of heroin overdoses each year in Chicago, the police are preparing to launch a radical new strategy to help addicts caught in narcotics investigations on the West Side.

As usual, officers will arrest people caught buying small amounts of heroin and take them to the police station. But officers will now give them the option of entering a drug-treatment program — and not being charged with a crime.

Users with violent criminal backgrounds and those who are “active gang members” will be excluded, police say.

“This is a one-time get-out-of-jail-free card,” said Ruth Coffman, executive director of the University of Chicago Health Lab, which will evaluate the program. […]

About $1 billion of heroin passes through Cook County alone every year, mostly on the West Side, Riccio said. One open-air market at Grenshaw and Independence had hundreds of people standing in line for heroin until police busted the operation last year, he said.

* From IADDA…

In the past five years, the legislature has slashed state funding for addiction prevention, cut addiction treatment by 40% and mental health treatment by nearly 25%.

* From January…

Elgin Residential Rehab and Men’s Residence West are two inpatient treatment homes that will be closing within the next 30 days, leaving those battling addiction to try to find help elsewhere at a time such places are scarce.

Lutheran Social Services of Illinois announced it is closing both programs, among 30 other programs being phased out, because of the state’s inability to pass a budget. […]

A Roosevelt University study titled “Diminishing Capacity: The Heroin Crisis and Illinois Treatment in a National Perspective” found that as heroin use increases, the state is ranked third worst in the nation for providing publicly-funded addiction treatment.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Apr 11, 16 @ 1:32 pm

Comments

I appreciate the intent of the program. But this puts police offices in the role of social workers. Shouldn’t these decisions be made by a judge in conjunction with court-administered drug programs?

Comment by Not Sarah Palin Monday, Apr 11, 16 @ 1:36 pm
Yep, right there. That is why you fully fund social service agencies. RIGHT FRICKING THERE!!!! Look people. Look at that pic. That’s what we are trying to stop and then work on prevention. Can we do that when staff has been laid off? NOPE. We need to have clean bills, structured roll calls (See I am learning OW) and start to address these problems before crime goes through the roof.

Comment by Honeybear Monday, Apr 11, 16 @ 1:40 pm
I worry far to many people view the attached picture and assume (like gun violence) it is limited to an urban-minority problem a la “The Wire.”

There are some striking studies out recently that show heroin is disproportionately killing white men. It is just harder to capture striking images of addicts sprawled across the suburbs and downstate.

Realted: http://www.pjstar.com/news/20160303/rep-darin-lahood-asks-white-house-to-help-combat-central-illinois-heroin-problem

Comment by Jimmy CrackCorn Monday, Apr 11, 16 @ 1:41 pm
Police officers are social workers! Part of the problem is the lack of recognition of what it is they are supposed to do.

Comment by PMcP Monday, Apr 11, 16 @ 1:42 pm
It’s easy to ignore what doesn’t directly affect you. Our decision-makers are far removed from what goes on outside of their gated communities. Treatment programs are expensive and many elected officials have a difficult time seeing past the line item dollar amount. The money, when utilized expertly and responsibly, is an investment for all of us. With proper treatment and support service consumers can become self-sufficient…ahem….taxpayers.

Comment by Cubs in '16 Monday, Apr 11, 16 @ 1:43 pm
And its not just in the cities… http://www.washingtonpost.com/sf/national/2016/04/08/we-dont-know-why-it-came-to-this/?wpmm=1&wpisrc=fl_unnatural

Comment by Marcus Agrippa Monday, Apr 11, 16 @ 1:45 pm
There’s a good article in the latest edition of Harper’s Weekly on the benefits (and issues associated with) legalization. It’s hopefully only a matter of time, for so many reasons (money saved on enforcement, increased revenue addiction better treated, people contributing to society instead of locked up, etc.).

There’s a horribly sad quote from Nixon aide John Ehrlichman in the story:
“The Nixon campaign in 1968, and the Nixon White House after that, had two enemies: the antiwar left and black people… You understand what I’m saying? We knew we couldn’t make it illegal to be either against the war or black, but by getting the public to associate the hippies with marijuana and blacks with heroin. And then criminalizing both heavily, we could disrupt those communities. We could arrest their leaders, raid their homes, break up their meetings, and vilify them night after night on the evening news. Did we know we were lying about the drugs? Of course we did.”

Comment by chi Monday, Apr 11, 16 @ 1:46 pm
Don’t kid yourself. It’s not a state issue, or a city-suburb-rural issue, or a white or black issue or a rich or poor issue.

To bring that home, Rep. Dold was chosen by the GOP to talk on the radio over the weekend about opiod abuse. It’s everywhere, including the North Shore.

And the only veto of Gov. Rauner’s to be overridden was the heroin bill. The vote was nearly unanimous in both chambers.

Illegal heroin is just part of it. Actually, it’s the smaller part compared to the abuse of legal prescription painkillers.

Over the years, the WSJ and NYT have done epic work, going back to the days when Purdue Pharma came up with the idea of “pain management” and loaded up the docs with swag to peddle their Oxy.

The State of Kentucky has led the charge to hold Purdue Pharma accountable, and the civil settlements are at $600 million and accounting.

But not one of those drug dealers has yet to see a day in jail.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Apr 11, 16 @ 1:47 pm
I have infinite compassion for these drug addicts. I have zero tolerance for drug trafficking. Life in prison or the death penalty. Take your pick.

Comment by blue dog dem Monday, Apr 11, 16 @ 1:54 pm
===I have zero tolerance for drug trafficking===

Would you put Oxycontin into that category?

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Apr 11, 16 @ 1:58 pm
===Illegal heroin is just part of it. Actually, it’s the smaller part compared to the abuse of legal prescription painkillers.

But it is where the users tend to migrate too when they are cut off of prescription painkillers.

Comment by ArchPundit Monday, Apr 11, 16 @ 2:00 pm
1. Many “traffickers” are addicts supporting their habit. 2. Easy to say life in prison or death penalty because you assume it won’t be someone you love. When it’s your child caught selling (aka trafficking) drugs, you’ll turn just like Nancy Reagan did with stem cell research.

Comment by NoGifts Monday, Apr 11, 16 @ 2:01 pm
Rich, having used Oxy on and off for years during cancer rehab, I understand more than most the addictive nature these meds pose. I personally was made aware of the dangers by doctors and pharmacists. These drugs have a purpose. So to answer your question. No.

Comment by blue dog dem Monday, Apr 11, 16 @ 2:04 pm
===Would you put Oxycontin into that category?===

I would. Along with Tramadol, Vicodin, et al. Biggest problem is making a legal distinction between trafficking and therapeutic intervention.

Comment by Cubs in '16 Monday, Apr 11, 16 @ 2:05 pm
Heroin has a purpose too. And everyone standing in that line was aware of the dangers before they started taking it.

Comment by chi Monday, Apr 11, 16 @ 2:08 pm
blue dog dem
Generally I agree. However, it’s more complicated. What level of drug trafficker? Most street level dealers would be a waste of time and resources. The real traffickers are not at the bottom of the food chain but rather removed from direct contact with the customers on the street. Many sit in board rooms or mansions protected from prosecution. That’s where the real money is at and that money buys protection. Until we take the profit out we are fighting an unwinnable war.

Comment by Old and In the Way Monday, Apr 11, 16 @ 2:09 pm
The medical field needs to do a much better job with prescription painkillers - - such as prescribing a painkiller that is non-addictive.

Comment by Mama Monday, Apr 11, 16 @ 2:11 pm
Good luck getting the coppers to do anything with this. Maybe an occasional gang banger to violate his parole or put him away until some judge puts him right back on the street for a “non violent” offense. Then you are right back to square one. Big wheel keep on turnin’. Staying fetal folks.

Comment by proudstatetrooper Monday, Apr 11, 16 @ 2:17 pm
Addiction is a healthcare problem, not a criminal justice problem. States need to address is accordingly. Stop putting people in jail for self-medicating and give them affordable, safe alternatives, including in-patient treatment and after care.

Comment by 47th Ward Monday, Apr 11, 16 @ 2:20 pm
hoping there is a social worker placed in every police station. police are absolutely NOT social workers, they are not trained to do the work that social workers do.

Comment by Amalia Monday, Apr 11, 16 @ 2:21 pm
BDD, your personal experience does not trump the well-documented creation of a new market for opiods by the likes of Purdue Pharma and their drug-dealer docs.

Purdue Pharma hasn’t paid out $600 million to settle a “nuisance” suit. Just a cost of doing business. Don’t take my word for it, the google is your friend.

–But it is where the users tend to migrate too when they are cut off of prescription painkillers.–

Believe me, I know. I live a few blocks from the Austin exit on the Ike.

Lot of white boys and girls of all ages waiting for the man in Austin.

Cop in Austin, fix in Oak Park, where it’s “safe.” They’ll fix in the Village Hall parking lot, surrounded by patrol cars. It’s been going on for years.

The arrests used to show up in the local papers’ blotters, but the rumble in the taverns is that the real estate people — who are the biggest advertisers, by far — put the kibosh on it.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Apr 11, 16 @ 2:22 pm
They have a program out on the east coast. Don’t quote me on this but, I think it’s in Massachusetts but, I could be wrong but, the point is they have a police station where people can come in and turn themselves in without getting arrested and enter a treatment program. They bring in all their drug paraphernalia drop it off in a drop off box and begin the process of entering a program. I don’t see thinking outside the box is a bad thing because what their doing is not working. I will say once a person has been arrested and are looking at jail time they need a program that these people can have an option either go to jail or enter a treatment program but, you stay for at least a year in this program and if not you go to jail to finish put your sentence. 30 days in a treament program is no where near enough. You have to really study this problem to understand once one gets addicted it’s very hard to quit.

Comment by Honest abe Monday, Apr 11, 16 @ 2:22 pm
Old@2:19.it is very complicated. Sometimes I throw some radical idea out there to start some dialogue. Momma blue dog just piped in and said you can take back my unused Oxy, but leave the Viagra……

Comment by blue dog dem Monday, Apr 11, 16 @ 2:26 pm
I don’t have a problem with treatment and drug courts rather than jail/prison. The true meaning of rehabilitating a drug offender. We need it now more than ever, and it’s cheaper than housing prisoners in our overcrowded prisons. Where is our compassionate conservative Gov? Out holding up the budget for his TA.

I do have one problem- how were the drug dealers able to deal out in the open like that?

Comment by Thoughts Matter Monday, Apr 11, 16 @ 2:53 pm
–hoping there is a social worker placed in every police station. police are absolutely NOT social workers, they are not trained to do the work that social workers do.–

Amalia, maybe it’s semantics, but the majority of cops I’ve ever known, outside of the the cowboys, were great social workers.

De-escalate a troubled situation, preserve life, keep the peace, protect and serve the community.

A very tough job, and noble work.

I’d suggest to you those coppers who visited Madison Pruitt the other day were doing great social work.

RIP.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Apr 11, 16 @ 2:54 pm
For over a year, Seattle has been doing something along these lines, expanded to sex worker offenses, with very good responses and results.

- The evaluation found the LEAD participants had 34 to 58 percent lower odds of arrest compared to a control group that went through the “justice system as usual.”

Here’s the article:

https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/voices/innovative-drug-policy-works

Comment by Hon. John Fritchey Monday, Apr 11, 16 @ 3:00 pm
blue dog
Agreed. As H.L. Mencken said, ” For every difficult and complex problem there is a simple solution and it’s generally wrong.” Lol on the Viagra!

Comment by Old and In the Way Monday, Apr 11, 16 @ 3:15 pm
Word, you agree with me I think. If a doctor or pharmacist is knowingly committing a crime, then he/she is also a drug trafficker, and should be treated accordingly. If someone in big pharm is committing a crime, whack-em. GM, ford, all the auto makers make cars that go 130 mph. Pretty much against the law in most places. Somebodygets killed by an idiot going that fast do we blame automakers? Me and millions others have had the same experience with the prescribed use of opiates. Does this mean ban them? Or should we go after the abusers.( and I don’t mean addicts).

Comment by blue dog dem Monday, Apr 11, 16 @ 3:19 pm
===Somebodygets killed by an idiot going that fast do we blame automakers?===

Ever read “Unsafe at any speed”?

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Apr 11, 16 @ 3:23 pm
No, but will attempt to use that google thing.

Comment by blue dog dem Monday, Apr 11, 16 @ 3:38 pm
wordslinger, I totally get what you are saying, that police are in the main warm and connecting. but social workers are trained specifically to handle things like this. and handing the cops this work is really not what they are trained to do.

Comment by Amalia Monday, Apr 11, 16 @ 3:41 pm
Hey, that google is pretty neat. The NHTSA ,like the FDA, do make an attempt to keep us safe. Try as they like, they can’t protect us from our own stupidity.

Comment by blue dog dem Monday, Apr 11, 16 @ 3:46 pm
The Seattle program was documented on Frontline or Independent Lens on public television recently.

Comment by Molly Maguire Monday, Apr 11, 16 @ 3:47 pm
Great idea in concept, but where are they going to go when there isn’t a rehab facility open due to funding cuts or one that has an open bed? Betty Ford isn’t going to take them.

Comment by Hmmm Monday, Apr 11, 16 @ 4:35 pm
Lots of opinions and supposed solutions but over the last decades the problem only seems to get worse. And yes, it is worse among a very diverse group of people whether educationally, economically or by race.

Personally I remain very unconvinced that more drug treatment will reverse the trend or even stabilize it. Nothing seems to work, and yes, a lot of programs from across the nation involving a lot of taxpayer dollars have been tried.

Comment by Federalist Monday, Apr 11, 16 @ 5:43 pm
How is it so often related that China “solved” their opium problem? As Federalist said, what we’ve been doing for the past fifty years is not working. So, either start executing traffickers, and involuntarily committing addicts to rehab, or go the completely opposite tack - assume adults have the right to put anything they want into their noses, or veins, or whatever, decriminalize and take the money and crime out of it, put all of the prison and judicial and police dollars currenty being spent into rehab, and for those who do not choose rehab, allow the gene pool to clean itself up. Take your pick.

Comment by Tom K. Tuesday, Apr 12, 16 @ 12:01 am
Heroin is such a big problem now in white high schools in Naperville, Wheaton, Yorkville, Aurora, Downers Grove, etc. It has replaced pot as a popular recreational drug for 15 year old bored suburbanites who end up ODing and dying before age 18. This is because the same dealers they get fairly benign marijuana from, also are now selling heroin and so it’s easy access. Two of my suburban 40 year old professional college educated friends both with young toddlers died in the last two years from secret heroin addictions that started with pills. One was a U of Chicago graduate. Legalization, coupled with pharmacy and healthcare delivery of drugs, and clean needle exchange, is needed to get this problem out of the streets. There is one treatment approach and substance called Ibogaine that allows heroin addicts to quit cold turkey after a few days detox using Ibogaine and avoid methadone. We need to invest in solutions like that.

Comment by Kendall County Redneck Tuesday, Apr 12, 16 @ 5:32 am
“they can’t protect us from our own stupidity.”

Addiction isn’t due to an intellectual deficit. Recognizing that is a good place from which to start a conversation about drug addiction.

– MrJM

Comment by @MisterJayEm Tuesday, Apr 12, 16 @ 7:37 am