We need to unite to tackle fentanyl
As an emergency physician, I see too many patients and families destroyed fentanyl epidemic. This is a plague that we can only face united.
Four decades ago, many dismissed the impact of secondhand cigarette smoke. History shows us they were wrong. Today, “educated experts” dismiss what they call trace amounts of fentanyl on public transportation – buses, light rail, and ferries.
The difference? Fentanyl is considerably more toxic.
The time for hiding the effects of addiction and leaving this disease unaddressed in the public square is long past. In fact, bringing these problems to light helps expose the truth and inspire action. Sweeping and bold change is what it will take to address this crisis.
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50 times stronger than heroin. It’s 100 times more potent than morphine; simply speaking, it makes the Oxy crisis look manageable. You don’t need to be a doctor to understand how critically serious this epidemic has become.
Our hospital has a special “code orange odor” to warn staff of a hazardous situation that needs immediate attention. This was done after many staff members suffered the effects of secondhand fentanyl smoke, which patients unknowingly bring into the emergency department.
Non-drug users who come in contact with secondhand smoke are at risk of overdosing. We have administered Narcan to several staff members after coming in contact with secondhand or trace amounts of fentanyl.
While this is a horrible occurrence, it is not rare. There are numerous documented incidents throughout the hospitals of our state where the same happened.
These conversations must be had in all levels of government, as well as at the kitchen table.
Dr. Raul Garcia
Toppenish Hospital
Windfarms an unnecessary eyesore
If you haven’t seen how ugly wind farms are you need to get out more.
Go south to Colfax or Dayton and look at how they have destroyed the beauty of the rolling hills of the Palouse and breaks of the Tucannon in Whitman and Columbia counties, respectively. Even along the Columbia Gorge, do you see how it has destroyed the natural beauty.
The only ones who win in this waste of dollars are manufacturers of the turbines and the owner of the land where it sits.
The losers are the rest of us who have to look at the eyesores and the birds that are impacted (literally) by the blades.
And what happens to the broken, defective, or burned by wildfire, blades and turbines?
Where is the proof that wind farms are cost effective and actually benefit the clean energy agenda?
We need proof.
We have the greatest renewable and clean energy anywhere in the nation right out our back door — hydropower. Why not add an additional power house to Grand Coulee Dam and add a fish ladder for what this project would cost, now and in the future?
Tom Schreck
Davenport
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