Comments on: No Drunks Or Walk-Ins At Detox Center

By: Deb

Deb — Tue, 21 May 2013 17:43:50 +0000

From the initial history the Editor provided then it still seems much like fraud and bogus claims to obtain this funding which is coming out of each of everyones pockets. Stop the funding and see what happens. The Sheriff’s office has to have a budget to provide this service as well and certain they are getting these amounts nor take insurance agreements.

By: FactvFiction

FactvFiction — Tue, 21 May 2013 06:43:12 +0000

No, you providing an alleged anecdotal response from the “jail individuals”, does not fly in the face of the posted code. I challenge you to show an instance where the Ada County Sheriff’s Office has held someone longer than the time allowed by statute.

By: tom

tom — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 18:37:16 +0000

I can read the code… thank you.. I guess we have a misunderstanding of the term detox. Holeing a person until they sober up is not detoxing them… according to the medico’s I have talked to…. who have much more experience in this than you and I combined it is impossible to “detox” a person in 24 hours, expecially if they are as drunk as has been being portrayed in this format. According to the jail individuals are kept until the “deputy feels like they are safe to let go” I asked if that meant hours or days… I was told that meant until the deputy felt like they were safe… there was no specific time, it was up to the deputy on shift. Kinda fly’s in the face of your code doesnt it?

By: tom

tom — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 03:22:57 +0000

ps… I never said there was a bond

By: tom

tom — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 03:21:51 +0000

I will call the sheriffs office tomorrow and see if I can get their stats…If you read my post I said exactly what you said about mental holds which is the only way they can legally put these people in a cell..Here is what I posted.. “And what happens if the individual does not want to go to jail? It has been stated here that they have committed no crime so locking them up isn’t really an option, unless you use the mental health stipulations IE a danger to themselves or others, then they are held for 72 hours (not including weekends).” We are not in disagreement on this point, what I dont get is raney pretending to be the good samaritan, which he is not.. that will get me spanked by Dave… but so be it

By: john

john — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 01:08:00 +0000

So… what does AH do for $2 mil a year ? A place to hang out for the not so severe alcoholic ?

By: FactvFiction

FactvFiction — Sat, 13 Apr 2013 06:18:26 +0000

Tom – where are you getting this 72hr number? Taking someone in for a detox hold is NOT the same as taking them on an Emergency Mental Hold. A detox hold (authorized by Idaho Code 39-307A(b))only lasts as long as it takes for the person to sober up and be able to operate in society without endagering themself or others. If there’s a Deputy reading, feel free to correct me, but last I checked, when the person drops below a .10 BAC they are sent on their merry way. Usually these detox holds involve people who are well into the .30 range and sometimes the .40 range. They’re not buzzed, they’re ripped and usually unable to walk, talk, or control bodily functions! (sorry for the mental image, but that’s what we deal with) At normal dissipation rates, we’re talking a stay of no more than 15hrs for a .40 (the average person would be in a coma at that level). By code, the detention can’t be more than 24hrs.

Also, there is NO bond as they are not under arrest. And there is no criminal report or charges if it is solely a detox hold.

As LJ indicated, taking someone to an actual detox facility would definitely be preferred by law enforcement. Unfortunately, even when AH was accepting drop offs, it was on Friday and Saturday nights — that is not primetime for the people who would need those services. The people getting trashed on the weekend need to be taken home by a buddy. The candidates for detox are people like Kelly Summers who was killed just recently when he stumbled in front of a car on State Street.

By: tom

tom — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 21:50:02 +0000

Then you may be able to speak to the supposition that these people are taken to the jail (not under arrest) and kept til they sober up and let go. And what happens if the individual does not want to go to jail? It has been stated here that they have committed no crime so locking them up isn’t really an option, unless you use the mental health stipulations IE a danger to themselves or others, then they are held for 72 hours (not including weekends). You say the AH will not accept an uncooperative “drunk”, what happens to that same uncooperative “drunk” when he hits the jail? I wonder why it is that cops can disparage alcoholics by calling them “drunks” yet the good sheriff can’t be burdened with a label even if it is correct.

EDITOR NOTE–Tom, you gotta stop baiting people, including me! We all want some sort of place to protect the safety of troubled souls and Allumbaugh isn’t doing the job! Coppers and sheriff don’t want (political incorrectness intended) drunks, dopers, crazies, in their jail and the E.R. doesn’t want them either. That was the entire reason for Allumbaugh. It ain’t working and you are fighting with the people who are in agreement with you.

By: tom

tom — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 20:41:39 +0000

People say I make unwarented comments. At least mine are based in fact.

By: LJ

LJ — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 19:54:17 +0000

Tom,

I happen to be a local police officer (or keystone cop, but I don’t work for the sheriff). We do pick people up off the streets out of empathy. Sadly I have helped pick up more than one who stumbled into traffic where he shouldn’t have.

I would love to bring those I pick up to a detox center, but for reasons I already described we can’t. Right now we don’t always have an option but the ‘drunk tank.’ The Allumbaugh House simply won’t except the non cooperative drunk. I can’t leave him stumbling along the side of the road, and he will walk away from a hospital. Where should we put him?

And to clarify – I am not speaking of the people who had a few and decided to walk instead of drive. I am talking about the ones literally stumbling along, which we see all too much.

I think Nemo makes very good points. It just goes back to the willingness of the patient.