Don’t Let the Heroin Abuse Epidemic Take One More

On Sunday, February 21st 2016, the heroin abuse epidemic took my a friend from me. It was a shock to all of us. He was a brilliant, loving, and talented person, with a bright future ahead of him. He taught me how to play chess and helped me quit smoking cigarettes. Now he’s just a statistic.

If you have a friend or family member who is abusing heroin, it is crucial to act fast. Heroin users can quickly progress through the varying methods of administration , sometimes in as little as a week or days. A heroin user who is abusing heroin intravenously is at greater risk of overdosing or even contracting HIV and other blood-borne diseases.

The face of heroin is changing. Heroin abuse is no longer confined to the inner city limits. In ever-increasing numbers, suburban and rural teenagers and young adults are abusing the drug, too. There’s no denying it – America is in the full throes of an opioid epidemic.

Many politicians, pundits, sociologists, and drug abuse experts agree that this new heroin abuse epidemic is at least partially a result of prescription opioid abuse and overprescription. For example, someone who is prescribed painkillers for a work-related injury may become dependent on prescription opioids. Once the script runs out or those pills become difficult to obtain, many move on to heroin for the same kind of high.

A few facts about the epidemic that may put things in perspective:

• From 2011 to 2013 heroin related overdose deaths doubled.
• Over 8000 people died of heroin overdoses in 2013.
• Heroin addiction is 40 times more likely in people who abuse prescription painkillers.

Fortunately, people are finally realizing the severity of this issue and are acting upon it. For instance, President Obama’s 2016 budget designates over $130 million towards fighting this growing epidemic.