A man overdosed on heroin in public and is charged by Boardman Police for inducing panic.

The decision to criminally charge overdose victims has been controversial in other Ohio communities and now the American Civil Liberties Union is crying foul.

22-year-old Robert Rosenberg was charged with inducing panic after Boardman Police found him on the ground of a parking lot at Southern Boulevard and Indianola Avenue last month.

Once revived, he admitted to shooting up two bags of heroin.

Boardman Township Police Chief Jack Nichols explained the charge.

“The fact that we had to dispatch a fire truck, an ambulance and a police car to the scene of this because he chose to do narcotics is resulting in a charge of inducing panic,” Chief Nichols said.

Two days later, police found Rosenberg at a gas station. He allegedly vomited outside, saying he was off the hard stuff and that's why he was sick.

The ACLU has already sent a letter to the City of Washington Court House asking them to stop charging overdose victims with inducing panic.

There may be some who believe that charging someone with inducing panic for overdosing discourages people from calling for help, but police have differing opinions.

“I take a completely different look at it. Often times inducting these people into the criminal justice system is what saves them,” Chief Nichols said. “If the officers fill out a report and walk away that day and send this man on his way down the road the very next day, he's going to use drugs again and maybe risk dying.”

Austintown's Police Chief Bob Gavalier agreed, saying it's not about putting people in jail; it's about a chance at life with drug court and other programs.

"If you say one life, it's well worth it,” Gavalier said.

You can read the full letter to Washington Court House from the ACLU below: