Drunk, high pedestrians becoming more of a problem. Here's Fresno's solution
Citing a rise in deaths of pedestrians under the influence of drugs, alcohol, or both, Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer and District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp Thursday announced an expanded partnership with the Fresno Rescue Mission to help potential victims gain sobriety.
Dyer cited the deaths of 30 pedestrians in Fresno in 2018, at least 19 of whom were under the influence when they were killed, as evidence that more efforts are needed.
Smittcamp said the passage of Proposition 47, which turned many drug offenses from felonies into misdemeanors, is driving a need to find new approaches to reaching chronic abusers of alcohol, methamphetamine, opioids and other drugs.
Reducing drug penalties makes it difficult for authorities to compel abusers to enter programs, Dyer and Smittcamp said, and an unintended consequence is more people with substance abuse issues are on the street. (Efforts to reach proponents of the state’s new drug laws Thursday were unsuccessful.)
Read more: https://www.fresnobee.com/news/local/article229431759.html
