A stoner friend (who is also a dedicated father of two and a successful computer consultant) sent me a link to a sad and thought-provoking story.
A Seattle teen girl takes ecstasy with her friends, the drug apparently triggers undiagnosed diabetes, she dies from ketoacidosis. The girl's friends tend to her for hours before she dies, but nobody dares call an ambulance, because in most US legislatures a drug user runs a great risk of a jail sentence if she reports an overdose.
Another casualty in the War on Drugs. Danielle McCarthy was sixteen.
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This irks the crap out of me because I know that the law is rooted in puritanical thinking that any who use drugs, distribute drugs, etc. should be punished severely.
And I'm sure those who think the death was punishment.
What is your source for the claim that in most US jurisdictions "a drug user runs a great risk of a jail sentence if she reports an overdose"?
I'm 110% in favor of decriminalizing recreational drug use. But that claim sounds bogus.
Check out the first of the two links in the entry above.
"Information regarding the toxicology report was provided to The Stranger by a confidential source." This bit sounds like someone wanted to cover the whole thing up by blaiming it on diabetes instead of on the drugs. I have had diabetes for 15 years and NEVER heard of someone with a ketoacidosis like that. Firstly it takes days for your body to get to the point where ypu vomit. Secondly it takes much longer before you get unconscious and when you are ypu normally stay that way until you die if untreated. It could be true but it sounds too weird. Usually only very small children dies that quickly. I'd say her body just had an (maybe abnormal) reaction to the drugs. And only the drugs.
Yeah, I don't know. What's really sad, anyway, is that law enforcement practices are keeping people from calling 911.
Martin - I agree that laws should not keep people from calling 911. But I didn't find anything in the story you linked to that would support your claim about _most_ jusrisdictions, nor the claim that one risks a jail term for reporting an OD. You leave out the rather important point that the risk arises if the person reporting the OD has provided the drug in question.
Again, I'm not trying to defend the laws -- just looking for accuracy in what is reported.
Therses, the diabetes was UNDIAGNOSED, leading to the "days to get to the point where you vomit." That your body with DIAGNOSED, and therefore, treated, diabetes reacts differently is beside the point.
No, Theres is quite right. Ketoacidosis as a side effect of the body's burning fat and muscle tissue for energy takes a very long time to reach life-threatening levels. It's a relatively common effect of those meat-only diets.
It is kind of hard to believe that the diabetes onset would have been causally unrelated to the drugs. E pills are notorious for being cut with all manner of other substances. For the nerdy stoner, there are even little mail-order chemistry sets that allow you to test the contents of a pill before you swallow it!
Yeah, I don't know. What's really sad, anyway, is that law enforcement practices are keeping people from calling 911.
Posted by: Martin R | January 3, 2008 5:47 PM
Ya,
I agree with Martin! No matter what side you are on, it is still very sad!
Dave Briggs :~)