BOISE, Idaho — The opioid crisis has plagued the nation, and Idahoans in the Treasure Valley have also seen it happening in their backyard.
Now, local agencies are partnering up to educate the public about what to do when it comes to drug overdoses with the help of signs.
The signs are being displayed in the restrooms of various parks, like Ann Morrison Park and Kathryn Albertson Park in Boise, as well as being handed out to organizations and businesses. Some of those places include: Albertsons, Terry Reilly Health Services, Boise and West Ada schools and rescue missions in the area.
The Boise Police Department said this comes after they started seeing a trend last fall where people were moving the bodies of people who overdosed on drugs because they were in fear of the police and having to tell them how that person died.
The signs are a way to help educate and help people with the prevention side of overdoses, and part of that is informing people about Idaho’s Good Samaritan law.
“This law makes it so you cannot be prosecuted if you overdosed or your friend has overdosed; if you've called to get help for you or your friend you're going to be given help and you're immune from prosecution,”
Boise police Sgt. Justin Kendall said.
The signs are part of an effort organized by the city of Boise, Boise police, the Ada County Sheriff's Office and Meridian police.
“We can’t arrest our way out of this drug epidemic in our state or this country,” Kendall said. “If you are using these, you need to know what these signs and symptoms look like and when you see that, try and alert your friend. Try and shake them and wake them up - and if they don’t, you need to immediately call 911.”
National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is Saturday, April 27. More information about how you can dispose of unwanted prescription medications in the Treasure Valley can be found online.