NEW YORK (WPIX)—
A city-funded guidebook on how to carefully shoot heroin has sparked outrage from many New Yorkers.The controversial 16-page brochure, complete with illustrations and tips on how to find your veins, sends the wrong message to the public, experts said Monday.
City Councilmember Peter Vallone Jr., who chaired the council's public safety committee, said that the $32,000 spent on publishing the guidebook is a tremendous misuse of the city's funds and vows that he will try to stop the distribution of 70,000 copies already printed.
"It's a waste of taxpayers' money," one person told PIX News.
NYC Health Department Assistant Commissioner Daliah Heller maintains that the city's goal is to promote health and save lives with this pamphlet, which teaches "a less harmful way to inject yourself."
Among the tips outlined in the illustrated guidebook are how to prevent an overdose, how to treat an overdose and how to use new syringes.
"I am sorry, we're not going for that," another person told PIX News. She also has one last word of advice -- "Rehab!"
