re: ER Doc says assaults against doctors and medical pros on the rise

I was working in a smaller market a few years back when the DEA shut down the two biggest pain docs. One had an active patient roll north of 3500, the other 5000+. Within two months, they had robbed a hospital pharmacy in broad daylight with numerous LEO within 200 feet. I was talking with one officer just after the robbery, asking his thoughts. He told me heroin and gang activity would explode within six months. He was right. As for mental health, many markets simply do not have the facilities. I looked for two months, unsuccessfully, by request of one my GPs to find a place for a young man, 6’5” 300+ lbs, who was experiencing homicidal delusions/fantasies. Not suicidal, homicidal. He was sleeping in a closet of the practice because it was the only place he felt safe. Without him breaking the law or hurting someone, I was told repeatedly there’s no place for him. Nobody wants the Titicut Follies again, but states need some form of non criminal mental health facilities.
Now both hospitals in town have armed security that rivals govt research facilities. Scary.