Impact of Heroin

Heroin used to be a drug that was not paid much attention to, just purely due to the fact that it generally was considered a drug that is less common.  Many people had the idea that it is only used by junkies, poor people, and street bums.  Unfortunately, this is no longer the case in our contemporary society.  The impact of heroin has spread broadly into those of all demographics.  It has become an epidemic that can no longer be ignored simply due to being outside most people’s sphere of influence.

Heroin is becoming an extremely common drug within demographics that many would have never expected.  There are now those in upper-class neighborhoods, schools, and suburbs who are falling into the death grips and impact of heroin.  The cartels that distribute heroin are turning to these types of demographics to offload their supply, often at a very cheap rate.  It is no longer foreign to find out that a teacher, friend, or coworker is struggling with an addiction to heroin.

Impact of Heroin has Moved into the Suburbs

Heroin used to be considered almost more of a specialized drug. Meaning there were only small groups and demographics that tended to be users, but as previously stated, this is no longer the case. Heroin has begun to affect those of all professions, social classes, ages, etc. An article from ABC News states, “Heroin used to be thought of as a drug of the poor, in depressed areas,” said Anthony Marotta, assistant special agent in charge of the DEA in Columbus, Ohio. “Here, it’s across all lines. We have everything from well-to-do affluent areas to depressed housing.”

Aside from the reduced cost, law enforcement experts say the increased purity of the drug is contributing to the impact of heroin and its prevalence. Kids are more apt to try the more potent drug, several times purer than the drugs coming into the country in the 1970s because it can be snorted or smoked, rather than injected.

Over-prescription is a Large Part of the Problem

One large reason that heroin has exploded so violently is due to the fact of prescription opiates having skyrocketed in use over the years.  A number of these types of drugs being prescribed within our contemporary society has increased exponentially.  According to a presentation to the Senate Caucus from Nora D. Volkow, M.D. that is posted on the CDC website, “The number of prescriptions for opioids (like hydrocodone and oxycodone products) have escalated from around 76 million in 1991 to nearly 207 million in 2013, with the United States their biggest consumer globally, accounting for almost 100 percent of the world total for hydrocodone (e.g., Vicodin) and 81 percent for oxycodone (e.g., Percocet).”

Those who have been abusing prescription painkillers have found themselves transitioning quite quickly into heroin.  Being that they are contained within the same family of drug, heroin can oftentimes be the next step that a person takes from pain pills.  The reasons behind why people move from painkillers to heroin are several.  One of such is that when they are no longer able to afford the prescription, heroin is generally much less expensive.  Then there is also the fact that heroin tends to be much more readily available in comparison to pain pills on the street market.

Being that painkillers can be such a lead into heroin, the amount of these being prescribed has become a large part of the issue.  A multitude of doctors are completely over prescribing these types of medications, which is leading to more addictions, and more escalations to heroin.  Especially when someone hooked on painkillers ends up paying extremely less for heroin than they do for painkillers.  To truly begin to address the issue of so many people falling into heroin addiction, the issue of over prescription also needs to be addressed.

Opiates can be a difficult substance to struggle with in general.  They can produce extremely hellacious addictions and physiological dependencies within an individual.  When a person is struggling with an addiction to opiates, whether it be prescription painkillers or heroin, seeking treatment is absolutely advised.

Find Treatment for an Addiction Today

Addiction can absolutely destroy an individual, not to mention those around them and intimately connected to them as well.  This is why it is so vital for a person to seek treatment as soon as they realize they are addicted.  When searching for a treatment center, it can play a pivotal role in a person’s success to find the right facility.  Since every individual is unique, it is important to find a center that will fit the person.  This can sometimes be difficult to find simply due to the massive number of treatment types and treatment centers out there.  We are here to assist you in finding the perfect private inpatient treatment center for yourself or a loved one.  If you would just like more information on the impact of heroin on society and individuals today, do not wait, give us a call.