About a month ago, Portland Fire and Rescue launched an overdose response team in an effort to take the pressure off firefighters.

    • jordanlund@lemmy.worldOPM
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      3 months ago

      Oh, definitely. The stats from fire station 1 ALONE were insane.

      https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/the-story/portland-downtown-firefighter-overdose-calls-narcan-deaths/283-a37b7402-c199-40ce-a120-bb6aec149365

      From July, 2023:

      "In June alone, firefighters from Station 1 responded to 300 overdoses.

      Portland police data shows that back in 2020 nearly 90 people died from overdoses. The number jumped to 135 in 2021, then to 159 in all of 2022. So far this year there have been 151 deaths, all in less than seven months. Police expect that number to be around 300 by year’s end."

      Anything that lets fire stations respond to, you know, fires and such, is going to be a good thing.

      • tsonfeir
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        3 months ago

        Life would be a lot better if human suicide was available to all.

        • FiveMacs@lemmy.ca
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          3 months ago

          It technically is but we keep making response teams to bring people back who do it by way of consuming fent

          • tsonfeir
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            3 months ago

            It technically isn’t, where do I go in Portland to checkout without having to do it myself?

            • jordanlund@lemmy.worldOPM
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              3 months ago

              Well, first you have to have a terminal illness. Then you have to get 2 doctors to sign off on the diagnosis. Then you get a mental evaluation declaring you fit to make the decision. Then you get a doctor to prescribe a fatal prescription.

              But it’s on you to actually swallow the pills.

              • tsonfeir
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                3 months ago

                So they get someone to give them permission?

                No wonder fentanyl is so popular.