NYCDOH Pamphlet On Safe Intravenous Drug Use Removed From DOH Website, But Remains Online Elsewhere

After the New York Post reported on a pamphlet distributed by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, inflammatory coverage by media outlets proceeded. Some reports were more balanced than others.

Never missing an opportunity to misrepresent the facts to make political hay, New York City Councilmember Peter Vallone Jr. was particularly vocal about his opposition to the pamphlet. After vowing to see it removed from circulation, Vallone told the Housing Works blog that he and City Health Commissioner Thomas Farley have agreed to disagree. However, a compromise was reached, "and the pamphlet will no longer be available online but will continue to be distributed throughout the city." Indeed, it has already been removed from the NYCDOH website.

Anticipating this, NYC The Blog grabbed screen grabs of each page and uploaded them to Flickr where it remains available to anyone. Or you can view it in a slideshow below:

New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene - Full Pamphlet On Intravenous Drug Use: Take Charge Take Care - 10 Tips for Safer Use

The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has published a guidebook for intravenous drug users titled: "Take Charge Take Care - 10 Tips for Safer Use." It offers smart and important information on preventing disease, bodily harm, or death, while using heroin or other intravenous opiates. Tips include what to do if someone overdoses: lay the individual on their side to prevent choking, administer Narcan if you have it on hand; How to find your veins: jump up and down prior to shooting up, (a warm body increases the visibility of your veins); or what to do with used needles: dispose of them in a thick container such as an empty laundry detergent bottle, label it as toxic waste, and dispose of them at a hospital, where it is noted, they have to take them.

View the full pamphlet on Flickr or in a slideshow below:

Opiate use has been reported to be responsible for 70% of all drug misuse deaths. The information contained in this pamphlet can help an addict maintain their health and extend their chances for recovery, in effect buying someone time until they enter a treatment facility. In turn, likely saving a life.

Unfortunately, the men at the United Stated Drug Enforcement Agency take a different view, with 1010WINS quoting DEA Special Agent-In-Charge John Gilbride as calling the pamphlet, which clearly falls under disease prevention and health care services, "very disturbing."

Cue righteous indignation by the New York Post in 3...2...

Related:

• Slideshow of heroin addict getting his kit and shooting up. [Vimeo]
  
• A (good) shot in the arm that’s saving junkies’ lives. [The Villager]