* ALERT * UPDATED: 5/1/2023 @ 5PM: According to radio transmissions and HN observations, there may possibly be an ongoing rash of adverse reactions related to the consumption of illicit “magic mushrooms” across the Cape right now.  The latest being a call in Falmouth, during the Sunday/Monday overnight (according to radio transmissions – no further details at this time…), along with the following 3 apparent cases of adverse reactions (or bad trips) that wound up in the CCH emergency room, documented by HN in Yarmouth this past weekend. HN will be reaching out to local LE in an effort to keep an eye on this.  As of right now, these are just notes and unofficial observations.  #MagicMushrooms #Psilocybin #IllicitDrugs #CounterfeitIllegalDrugs #Lacing #Fentanyl-Laced #OnePillCanKill #BadTrip #FakeRecreationalDrugs

YARMOUTH – [HN NOTES & MULLINGS ON THE MATTER] – Why anyone would think it’s a good idea to buy an illicit substance, often from a complete stranger or known criminal, stick it in their mouth and ingest it, has always boggled my mind. While I’m sure some have been able to get away with it unscathed, for a time, because they’ve been fortunate enough to have a “good luck” horseshoe conveniently embedded up their backside, it’s the consequences of the “bad trips” that I often see and document. The horror stories I witness on the regular…

I know some reading this will probably chalk it up to being “nature’s way of thinning out the herd” – as awful as that sounds – but I DO NOT agree with that awful sentiment. These are often teens or young adults who have been sold a bill of goods… and now, for some, it’s seemingly too late.  They often cannot find a way out, because the stark realities of illicit drug use are often covered up and not mentioned by the players and members of a culture of deception. From what I’ve seen – as someone who has been around a long time, with a wide array of my own stupid decisions and experiences – the “recreational” drug culture is nothing but deadly smoke and mirrors, and insanity, marketed by word of mouth to temporarily ignorant, temporarily insane individuals during their most vulnerable stages in life. It’s fraud.

Life altering, deadly fraud.

And I’m not buying any of it… and I hope you aren’t as well.

The fact is, the people who peddle illicit substances are the lowest of the low, who don’t give a rat’s ass about your wellbeing.  They invariably only care about themselves.  And in the case of the worst and deadliest illicit drugs (such as Fentanyl), the dirtbags who sell it are usually well aware their poison is killing people, but they don’t care. I’ve read the police wiretaps of dealers voicing tremendous pride in the deadly potency of their particular poison… boasting that it’s so strong, it has actually “knocked” people down. Dead.

What kind of degenerate thinks like that?

(On a side note, I pray more of these drug peddling degenerates end up being charged with premeditated murder in the cases of Fentanyl and fake pills, for just one example.  There needs to be consequences. Because what’s the difference between selling drugs that one damn-well knows are killing vulnerable people, or pointing a gun at someone’s head?)

Yet here we are. And as a photojournalist who literally cannot count the number of fatal drug and alcohol overdoses I’ve seen in my lifetime, my job is to show the realities. So perhaps someone will learn before making the same wrong decision…

It’s possible.

CAUTION: If you are an illicit drug enthusiast – or an illicit drug apologist – or if you happen to have a problem with the realities of the illicit drug culture, this article is not for you, so please feel free to STOP reading NOW.
…………………

Earlier this weekend, on Saturday morning, a rare moment of calm and radio silence was rudely ended by a report of a young man face-down in the street, possibly not breathing. Yarmouth police responded to an ordinarily quiet, well-cared-for family neighborhood and made contact with the young man who had his face pressed against the asphalt. Yarmouth FD Rescue also responded.

Upon the arrival of first responders, and much to everyone’s relief, it was eventually announced the young man was conscious. He had been intoxicated on mushrooms, in the throes of a “bad trip,” according to a police radio transmission.

As the story goes, this was a young man who had only been born just a little while ago, in 2005. Still a “baby,” in my opinion. But physically a full-grown, strapping young man by all appearances. A young man who presented the outward appearance of health and vitality, now, one worries, possibly killing himself with substances that will ultimately cause him to become weak and sickly… and possibly even take his life.  (Let’s hope not…)

… and as the story goes, this particular young man needed help.

HN was on scene when officers and EMTs were simply attempting to speak with the young man, to help him, when he suddenly became belligerent, lurching toward one of the first responders in an effort to attack, like some feral animal suddenly confronted with captivity! (Very likely NOT his normal behavior.) Officers – this being not their “first rodeo” – quickly drew their Tasers and convinced the out-of-control man/child to get on the ground. He was handcuffed and placed onto a stretcher before being loaded into the back of an ambulance. He was then safely transported to Cape Cod Hospital for treatment. (Hopefully this will be his last “bad trip” ever… because many bad trips don’t actually end so “well.”)

……………

Later Saturday evening, the very same day as the aforementioned “bad trip,” police responded to a West Yarmouth address after receiving a 911 call that someone was in “bad shape.”

Upon arrival, Yarmouth Police Officers located a young man on the ground bleeding. He had reportedly just jumped from a window, a painful, negative side effect of having been “high on mushrooms.”

Officers stood with the distressed young man, who was obviously in a state of confused anxiety, (or in other words, “freaking out!”), as sheets of rain beat down upon his mud-soaked clothing and open lacerations.

It had been busy for first responders at the time of this particular call, and the closest available Yarmouth FD ambulance was all the way across town, near the Dennis town line. It was a long, wet wait for medical assistance, as additional police officers were asked to also respond and assist with an inclement nighttime search for a second individual.

There was a second young man that officers became worried about. A missing pal of the injured mushroom tripper, who was reportedly also high on one unknown substance or another – out of his mind and also in the throes of a bad trip.

Intoxicated man number two was nowhere to be found, and officers focused their time on searching the surrounding roads and nearby beach, hoping he hadn’t taken a dip.

Meanwhile, intoxicated man number one, the mushroom tripper who had jumped from a window, was eventually transported to the nearby Cape Cod Hospital emergency room.

And the good news is (“good news” being a relative expression here…), Intoxicated distressed man number two, who had been reported missing, eventually arrived at the emergency room on his own. And officers checked in on him before leaving him in the hands of medical staff.

……………

I must emphasize that these are not unusual stories. These are every day, all-day-long stories of people harming themselves and suffering the consequences of illicit drug use. Drugs which are not purchased at some regulated pharmacy, one that can theoretically be held accountable… but purchased from some careless neighborhood dirtbag trying to line their own pockets…

And here is where I turn this HN conversation back toward the readers… to maybe grab the attention of the next potential illicit drug user:

I have to ask, are you that ignorant and insane that you are going to purchase something from a careless dirtbag (who you wouldn’t even trust alone with your cellphone), then put that substance into your mouth and ingest it? If so, is it because your dealer is special? And is it because you’re so smart you can tell the difference between the run-of-the-mill dirtbag and your own particular “special” drug peddler, because he’s simply not like the others?

Really?

No, seriously dude, really?

(BECAUSE I’d REALLY hate to think that maybe the “herd thinning” theorists are correct. I mean, I’ve always believed that deep down inside, illicit drug users are more intelligent than that – often very intelligent and strong, once sober. At least that has been my personal experience, for the most part…)

And if you happen to be that next bad decision making, illicit drug user, gambling away your wellbeing – despite little old me wanting to believe you are WAY smarter than that – here’s my very last question (I promise):

When in this Wide World of Sports are you ever going to sober-up and smarten-up, by showing the world the deep-down-amazing-badass you truly are?

P.S. – Today’s Hytown Vignette is a brought to you by George Benson… [CLICK IT/CRANK IT!]

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