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Officials Want Smack Safety Guide Withdrawn
By
Jen Carlson
Published Jan 6, 2010
Modified Jan 6, 2010
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By
Jen Carlson
Published Jan 6, 2010
Modified Jan 6, 2010
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The war against the Heroin How-To guide rages on, with Councilman Peter Vallone, Jr. lobbying for the 17-page brochure to be destroyed... though it's been in circulation for nearly two years.
While NYC health officials say they were just trying to help heroin addicts shoot up in a safe manner, many critics say the guide contains more helpful starter hints for first time users — and that "telling drug users to do things like wash their hands was silly." Vallone told the Times that tips like “drop the cotton directly into the cooker. Don’t touch it!” sounded more like “you’re going to prevent them from getting a boo-boo.”
Even the Los Angeles press is criticizing us, noting that "the nonjudgmental writing style and yellow cover is indeed reminiscent of the 'For Dummies' how-to book series."
Vallone will reportedly be meeting with health commissioner Dr. Thomas A. Farley today, asking him to withdraw the pamphlet (Farley wasn't in office when it was originally distributed), which cost taxpayers $32,000.
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Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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