The article narrates the author's encounter with Drew Goff, a homeless man struggling with fentanyl addiction, and the desperate hope that he would be arrested for his own safety and receive treatment. The author highlights the failure of both liberal and conservative approaches to drug addiction, pointing out how public health strategies have been largely ignored in favor of criminal justice solutions. Drew's case illustrates the complexities of addiction and societal responses to it, drawing attention to the urgent need for effective treatment options.
Drew, 40, was homeless, using fentanyl and also selling it. His wife, who was with him, was pregnant and had overdosed 27 times, including twice in a single day.
Drew's journey constitutes a rebuke to liberals and conservatives alike. Drew is the third generation in his family to wrestle with addiction.
Public health approaches were neglected, so even now the federal government estimates that fewer than one in four who need substance use treatment get it.
It seemed only a matter of time before Drew killed himself or one of his customers. So Drew's mom and I confided to each other our hope that he would end up in the relative safety of prison.
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