Comments on: Detox…Just Do It!

By: Jack

Jack — Mon, 27 Feb 2006 19:50:28 +0000

How about UNTOX so we don’t need DETOX?

By: osprey

osprey — Sun, 26 Feb 2006 18:49:25 +0000

Our tax-evading County Commissioner shed some light on this project in his Sunday op-ed. From what I gather the County has a contract with CH2M Hill to build onto the jail to expand some medical facilities because if they got sued they think they would lose. The Sheriff then decided to try to bootstrap this project into also providing a detox center, apparently at major expense to the cities.

The Boise Mayor and Council are taking a correct go-slow approach. The urgency appears nothing more than the county’s contractor, CH2M Hill, wanting to start working on the medical unit plan and get compensated. The Commissioner pretty much admits so. Sounds like a case of the contractor tail wagging the County dog is what created an artificial deadline.

Given that getting drunk and/or drugged and needing to sleep it off is something that happens to people rural, suburban or urban, I think the County ought to take responsibility for the whole thing, including raising the taxes necessary to pay for it. They should not try to sluff it off on the cities.

Ed note–OSPREY understands perfectly. Call the commishes and the councilors and ask them to read the GUARDIAN and the reader’s comments.

By: tam

tam — Sat, 25 Feb 2006 22:50:06 +0000

For anyone who would balk at increased taxes to fund drug treatment and detox, I would encourage them to do some research. There was a study, I believe out of Washington State, on the cost of Methamphetamine to communities where its use is prevalent. The article that accompanied the study was entitled “The Meth Tax”. It looked at all ancillary and tertiary costs to society (hard costs)when drug abuse occurs. I did have the article and url for a long time…but alas. Anyway, type it in and read. Wouldn’t we rather pay the money in a way we can track it and know that it goes to REALLY help the problem. I know I would.