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Judge Makes Drug Dealers Pay for Addicts' Anti-Overdose Meds

Fed up with the rising number of opiate overdoses in Western Pennsylvania, an Allegheny County judge is making convicted drug dealers buy lifesaving naloxone kits for the communities where they've sold drugs.

Fed up with the rising number of opiate overdoses in Western Pennsylvania, an Allegheny County judge is making convicted drug dealers buy lifesaving naloxone kits for the communities where they've sold drugs.

 

Judge Anthony Mariani has added the fine to two cases in the past week, ordering Andy Buxton to pay a total of $2,650 to three agencies in the Mon Valley and Larry Richardson to pay $1,250 to Ross/West View EMS - $50 for each brick of heroin the men were convicted of possessing with the intent to distribute.

 

Naloxone, known by the brand name Narcan, can reverse the effects of opiates such as heroin and halt an overdose.

 

"Ordering the defendant to provide funds for naloxone to the relevant agency will help to rehabilitate him and change his thinking," Mariani said Tuesday while sentencing Richardson, 41, of Ross on two felony counts of possession with intent to deliver. He ordered Richardson to serve five to 10 years in prison.

Caroline Cournoyer is GOVERNING's senior web editor.
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