I have written Gov. Paul LePage twice now asking him to support the naloxone bill for availability for all.

His reasons don’t make sense or ring true. Is this another personal, uninformed, influenced decision of his even though the facts are in front of him?

My son died of an overdose a year and a half ago. The constant stream of “what ifs” runs through my head daily. I would like to think that the availability of naloxone — for everyone — would save another mother a “what if” guilt-ridden day. Naloxone could provide that necessary time to save a life — and isn’t this what this is really about — to provide a second chance, to help guide a user to treatment?

LePage’s misguided, uninformed belief is that access would encourage use. Do condoms promote promiscuity? Research tells us no. Is this part of the ignorant belief that “just say no” is a viable option to someone who has no control? This is about saving a life; it’s that simple.

My son, 23, thought he was invincible, that he knew his drug use limits, that he had power over his use. Those in treatment understand this too well. Naloxone might have given my son the chance to be one of those people looking back and seeing his mortality, his vulnerability, his powerlessness.

This is not an issue of liability, why would one group be subject and another not? Does not ring true, to me.

Ignorance is a powerful tool. Let’s not give it anymore credibility or power.

Olivia AthertonSkowhegan