The goal of any recovery advocate/ally is in part to reduce stigma with regard to addiction. Our governor continues to show a strong desire to shame and discriminate based on nothing but personal opinion:
“Naloxone does not truly save lives, it merely extends them until the next overdose.” – Paul LePage
Okay, but there is absolutely zero evidence to support this claim. There are no facts that uphold it. This is nothing more than an opinion that can objectively be proven wrong utilized by a person in power to impose a moralistic view that is absurdly and hurtfully misinformed
Governor, I am tired of your choice to remain ignorant and the degree to which your prejudice overwhelms any common sense you may possess. I know a number of folks who are in long term recovery who are only alive because of Nalxone and the grace of God. Please embrace Bob Dylan’s words, “Don’t criticize what you don’t understand.” And for crying out loud stop vetoing things you don’t comprehend.
The legislature voted unanimously and without a role call to approve wide spread availability of Naloxone without prescription (the type of availability that exists in far flung places like Massachusetts. Your veto is in response to what every Maine representative and senator agrees is a common sense measure to reducing drug overdoses in Maine
How can you claim that you seek to reduce overdose deaths and then deny ready access to a substance that cannot be abused and whose sole purpose is to save the lives of those who are on death’s doorstep?
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