7 February 2021
CEO Scott Avedisian
RIPTA
705 Elmwood Avenue
Providence, RI 02907
Honorable Providence Council President Sabina Matos
Providence City Council
Providence City Hall
25 Dorrance Street
Providence, RI 02903
Dear Mr. Avedisian and Madam Council President:
I hope this message finds you well. I am praying that the pandemic has not touched those you love. Meanwhile, we will all find a way to deal with the snow.
Two times a month or so, I go down to Kennedy Plaza to talk to the addicted and the mentally ill. In other words, people just like me. Sometimes I even write about the experiences.
In early January, I took one of these trips. Several things then happened in rapid succession, so I did not get to write about that early January trip until today. I imagine many of the issues I am about to discuss are still unchanged.
On my last trip, one of the first things I noticed was a young man on a bench waiting for a bus starting to nod out from a distance. The bus pulled up to numbered location and he stumbled on. I scrambled around a little bit and asked a member of the maintenance team if bus drivers carried Narcan. Unfortunately, I did not notice what route that bus was taking.
The member of the maintenance team was uncomfortable. I fully understand that. He asked me to bring my concerns to the supervisors in the minibuses at that end of Kennedy Plaza. We had a great conversation. The supervisors informed me that drivers do not carry Narcan. Thankfully, there was no news story about an OD on a RIPTA bus that day, so I am hoping I was wrong, or the person got home and managed appropriately.
Please let me know if the inability to carry Narcan is a “lawyers are worried about liability” thing. Many hotels have the same issue with staff having Narcan on hand. If that is true, I will find volunteers to fill in the gaps.
This is important for two reasons. First and foremost, outside of “recovery related activities”, in the last 9 days, there have been two occasions for me were Narcan was important. In one, 10 of us came upon an OD victim. 3 of us had Narcan. It was applied and he is alive. In the other, somebody went “missing” for a couple of days. When we found him, he was dead. Had we found him sooner, Narcan may have saved him. I can only imagine what the ratio is like in Kennedy Plaza.
The second reason that applies specifically to Providence, and this might be something you already know, but a team of drug suppliers had added fentanyl to their meth recipe. (For the record, if you think that is strange, in the Philippines they think the missing ingredient for a great meth experience is caffeine.) In any event, fentanyl added to any drug ups the overdose percentage. Yes, I do think all drugs should be decriminalized. However, if you die due to the presence of fentanyl, I cannot bring you to a meeting.
Speaking of Narcan, there was a group of folks handing out food and clothing towards the City Hall side of Kennedy Plaza. I asked them about identifying those in full addiction and Narcan. They had some basic understanding, but everyone always benefits when we know more. They were not carrying Narcan but wanted to.
If it is not an issue, city matters sometimes get tribal, I would like to help them get Narcan and Narcan training. I think it would enhance the great work they already do. You never know – it just might save some lives.
Lastly, there is another matter I would like to discuss with you. However, it is political in nature. Due to the nature, I hope you do not mind receiving another communication in a week or so that is more politically slanted.
When we take on addiction issues directly, we reduce stigma. Reducing stigma means more people seek help. When more people seek help, more people suffering from addiction get to see another day. I would not have over 18 years clean and sober if this were not true. God forbid any members of your families or teams are currently suffering, but if they are please feel free to reach out.
Thank you for your time and consideration. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Robert T. Oliveira
315-864-1229
Warwick, RI
Quahogs United 