New overdose activity drive in launches in Utah, DEA claims it is a success

SALT LAKE CITY — A brand new activity drive to get robust on these concerned in overdose deaths simply launched in Utah, and the Drug Enforcement Administration mentioned up to now, it is a success.

However one public well being advocate who works with addicts will get assist and mentioned the duty drive will end in extra overdose deaths, not fewer.

“I do know what it feels prefer to lose someone and need there to be somebody to pay for one thing to make it higher,” Dr. Jen Plumb mentioned. “Some type of consequence that may make it appear one way or the other alright that we misplaced him.”

In 1996, Plumb misplaced her brother, Andy, to dependancy. Stopping dependancy is private for her, and he or she says this new activity drive considerations her.

“Once we speak about rising responses in an overdose in type of a criminalized style, that is the factor I am most anxious about,” Plumb mentioned.

She mentioned the method to permit legislation enforcement to carry extra folks accountable in an overdose dying will end in fewer requires assist.

“You are going to discourage folks from calling for that response,” Plumb mentioned.

“It’s the deadliest drug that we have ever seen within the historical past of our nation,” mentioned Dustin Gillespie with the DEA in Salt Lake Metropolis. He mentioned the aim of the Utah Drug Overdose Activity Pressure is to crack down on big-time criminals.

“We’re searching for critical, critical offenders. the worst of the worst,” he mentioned. Gillespie is searching for folks like Colin Shapard, the supplier sentenced earlier this month for promoting fentanyl to an 18-year-old who nearly died.

In keeping with an announcement from the U.S. Legal professional’s Workplace for the District of Utah, the DEA states that fentanyl has saturated the drug market in Utah. “It’s cheaper, stronger and extra broadly out there than ever earlier than,” the workplace mentioned.

It mentioned he is the identical supplier who gave two Park Metropolis teenagers medicine in 2016. These teenagers died.

“We’re searching for the distributor who reveals a callous disregard for town, is seeking to goal youth.”

Gillespie mentioned that is what Shapard is.

He mentioned the duty drive is supposed to determine higher coaching for companies processing scenes the place somebody died from a drug overdose.

“There is a stability between holding folks accountable, offering justice for these households and permitting the general public the chance to really feel like they will come to us as a result of, with out an investigation, we will not present justice,” Gillespie mentioned.

“Making all the things unlawful, busting all people has unintended penalties on the earth that i work in,” Plumb mentioned. She mentioned penalties like this imply extra addicts will die. “Personally, I am unable to sleep at night time with that thought.”