Sep 24, 2023, 6:04 PM |A promotional poster for fentanylfacts.org provides what a Washington health agency believes are key tips to consider. The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department says it’s newest campaign warns kids about the dangers of fentanyl. But theends up encouraging kids to use fentanyl in a “safer” way. It’s dangerous and will only make the crisis worse.
Harm reduction is a far-left strategy that offers tips on how to continue to use drugs, while mitigating some of the risk. It’s the strategy behind handing out clean needles and crack pipes. But should TPCHD teach children how to take fentanyl?TPCHD reports overdoses are the second leading cause of injury deaths amongst 15-to-24-year-old people.
Instead, they’re telling youth to use fentanyl test strips, carry naloxone , and to avoid using alone. On the TPCHD website, youth are told fentanyl is dangerous, but not with a goal to stop using. It’s because, “Once you have the facts, you’ll know why you need to stay safer—and how to do it.” “We talked to youth, young adults and local organizations who work directly with youth who are at high risk of overdose,” a TPCHD spokesperson said to the Jason Rantz Show on KTTH. “They told us prevention messaging alone was unlikely to work with this group and suggested we include messages about naloxone, fentanyl test strips and other harm-reduction strategies in the campaign.”While TPCHD calls harm reduction “a tried and true public health tool,” it doesn’t actually help addicts quit.