The Epidemic of Heroin

The objective of this analysis is to inform the reader of the abuse of Heroin and how it has become a widespread such a huge issue in the United States. The drug issue in America has only increased and Heroin made its first appearance way back in the late 1800s, but it wasn’t until the early 1900s that people began using it intensively. The use of this substance caused the rise in other diseases, as well as treatment for the addiction has been researched by many.

Findings have shown that the use of other prescriptions helps alleviate withdrawal symptoms, along with counseling. Heroin is highly addictive and such a hard journey to recovery.

The Epidemic of Heroin

Substance abuse as well as addiction has become common in today’s society. Addiction does not always begin with a drug. It can begin due to several other actors, such as alleviating, as well as addiction, emotional and physical pain or distress, experimenting out of curiosity, peer pressure, and, of course, the enjoyment of the feeling they receive when under the influence.

Heroin is an opioid, produced by an opium poppy, that has become a huge problem here in the United States. Other substances within the same category include morphine, codeine, oxycodone and hydrocodone, also known as pain killers as well as being a huge problem in the United States. Opioids are a type of drug that reduces immense pain by acting on the nervous system and are supposed to be monitored due to the risk factor that comes with taking them.

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This opioid gives off the same euphoric sensation as other narcotics; reduced stress and a “high” are some of the addictive effects given by this substance.

Heroin is made from morphine that can be injected, snorted, or smoked. It is a highly addictive drug and when users build up a tolerance, they begin to do more at a time which can lead to overdose. One of the articles I read mentioned that a “substantial percentage” of heroin users come in contact with HIV due to using unsanitary needles (Carlson, 2014). In addition, the risk of hepatitis C and B and bacterial infections of the bloodstream, skin, and heart increase while using. If a pregnant mother uses this opium while carrying, it, there will also be negative effects toon an innocent unborn child. The unborn child will become addicted to the drug, just as the mother is and once they are born, they will then go through withdrawal, the,refore the baby will be weaned off the addiction. Another observation is that any addiction is costly, but the more one builds up the tolerance, the more they will have to buy, making the addiction costly. Carlson stated that heroin users are criminals because it’s an illegal substance, but they will also commit crimes to make money to supply their habit (Carlson, 2014).

In 2000, approximately 130,000 people used heroin (Kanel, 2015). On average, 46 people will die a day from an overdose of an opioid, in America (Rollins, 2016). The abuse of opiates is on the rise in the US, and it is impacting more families and communities than it ever has before. Drug overdoses are the leading cause of accidental death in the United States (Rollins, 2016). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 9 out of 10 people who used heroin are also abusing another drug. The National Institute on Drug Abuse reported the number of deaths from opioid drugs over 13 years. In 2015, they reported that approximately 34,000 people overdosed\ due to the intake of opioids. The National Institute on Drug Abuse also charted the number of overdoses on Heroin. The charts show that the rates have gone up tremendously from 2011 to 2015. In 2011, there were about 5,000 who overdosed on heroin in the United States which tripled by 2015, when it raised to almost 14,000 overdoses. These statistics alone are enough to prove that the abuse of this deadly substance has increased outrageously within the past few years.

Although heroin has been around for many years, it has recently reached the grips of more people. While many investigations and law enforcement has been successful, and many dealers have been taken off the street, the hero addiction is still an epidemic throughout the United States. My family lives in South Carolina, and I have learned that it’s very rare for medical professionals to prescribe a narcotic since it has been a huge problem in that specific state. It is not difficult to find treatment centers and options to overcome heroin addiction. Nowadays, there are not only therapy sessions, but medications that can also help with decreasing withdrawal symptoms. That person is just needing to take that step of recovery.

The History of Heroin

Heroin originated back in the late 1800s. It is derived from opium that is found within the poppy flower. It soon became apparent that after repeated use of the heroin the users developed a tolerance causing the addiction, wanting more of the substance. Due to the risks and effects that the once prescribed drug had on individuals, it became classified as a narcotic, which decreased its availability to receive. Heroin production increased on the streets when it became a banned substance.

One study analyzed the heroin use of American soldiers who fought in Vietnam. The study surveyed a sample of men, who were heavily exposed to heroin in Vietnam since it was easy to find. The purpose of the analysis was to determine if the men who used heroin while deployed abused it once they returned home. In 1971, a pair of congressmen were made aware of the extensive heroin abuse while visiting Vietnam (Hesselbrock & Robins, 2010). Once that was discovered, soldiers were drug screened and were to be detoxified before coming back from the war. When researchers examined the men in late 1974, they concluded that heroin was used more than any other narcotic but is similar to the same amount as marijuana and amphetamines (Hesselbrock & Robins, 2010). It was also discovered that marijuana preceded the use of heroin.

Another source states that heroin use is more likely in veterans because of the chronic pain they may endure after the war (Banerjee et al., 2016). Not only did they begin to deal with PTSD, but also addiction once the war ended. Chronic pain and mental health status are a few factors that increase the risk of a veteran abusing opioids. Once opioid dependency is established the need for heroin is more likely to occur. This study raised concern about transmitted diseases with the initiation of heroin as discussed previously, due to the intravenous administration (Banerjee et al., 2016).

President Nixon was aware of the heroin epidemic in Vietnam and had concerns that it would become a domestic matter when returning troops come home with a new addiction. A study discovered that only 10% of the surveyed soldier used heroin after returning home (Hall & Weier, 2016). Heroin in Vietnam was easy to find, inexpensive, and a distraction. The study showed a correlation between soldiers who used heroin in Vietnam who had a history of using opiates before being drafted. Another predictor of heroin use after the war was men who were using other illicit drugs, as well as, heavy alcohol consumption. (Hall & Weier, 2016).

Prevalence of Heroin in the United States

Within the last few years, the use of heroin has increased, but so have the treatment options. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2.5 million people used a form of opioids in 2014 and about 28,000 people died of an opioid overdose. While analyzing the heroin abuse in the United States, the World Health Organization suggests that 13.5 million people use opioids, and 9.2 million of those people prefer heroin. In 2015, 45% of heroin users were also addicted to prescription pain killers (Salani, Zdanowicz, & Joseph, 2016). In recent years, the use of heroin has increased in all demographic areas (Salani, Zdanowicz, & Joseph, 2016). In 2015, it was reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that 8 heroin overdoses occurred within 70 minutes and 25 overdoses within 48 hours. A substance that was considered a street drug, popular in inner cities, has expanded its borders far beyond those city limits. The Office of National Drug Control Policy reported that 99% of the supply of heroin comes from the countries of Colombia and Mexico.

It is not uncommon for someone who has chronic pain or someone who just underwent severe surgery to be prescribed a narcotic. Unfortunately, that pain they are enduring can turn into an addiction to those pain killers. When that pain is gone so are the pain killers. But, the addiction is not, and many will turn to heroin to receive the same high. Like South Carolina, many states have set up controlled substance monitoring programs. These programs allow physicians to determine what narcotics the patient was prescribed, how much, and when. This system has several benefits, including, identifying patients who may need to seek intervention (Salani, Zdanowicz, & Joseph, 2016).

Therapeutic Intervention

Since Heroin has been around for a long period, there has been a discovery of several different ways how an addict can go about seeking treatment for their addiction. Many heroin addicts seek counseling and medication which can be required by a recovery program. When an addict approaches a crisis intervention counselor, the crisis counselor should give the addict guidance and resources for recovery programs (Kanel, 2015).

Many individuals who abuse drugs also have an underlying mental illness (Salani, Zdanowicz, & Joseph, 2016). Because of this fact, treatment mustn’t solely include being prescribed medication that will subdue withdrawal symptoms. It is critical that recovering addicts also seek a form of therapy. When one seeks a psychiatrist, it is valuable for the psychiatrist to understand the level of dependency, so that the proper therapeutic intervention can be referred. This applies to therapists; it is imperative that the therapist evaluating an addict can identify if the addict will benefit from a prescribed medication that will relieve some of the mental instability that comes with overcoming the addiction.

Many addicts are petrified of the withdrawal symptoms, therefore, they feel that they have no choice but to keep using. It’s important to know that the recovery process is a not fast and or easy process. Recovery is usually a lengthy process, especially with a drug like heroin. This highly addictive substance is easy to relapse on and that is why many people may spend years in an addiction recovery program. Buprenorphine is a substance also known as suboxone or subsolv. It can be given in the form of a tab or the form of a strip. This particular medication helps with the withdrawal symptoms allowing the patient to live their day-to-day life, sober and without cravings. The patient must be sober at least 48 hours before taking buprenorphine, if not, the medication can precipitate withdrawal (Bell, 2012). When patients in an outpatient recovery program are prescribed buprenorphine, they are closely monitored. They are watched closely by routine checkups with a medical doctor, where urine toxicology is administered and random pill counts may be conducted at any time. This is because many addicts who relapse will sell their medication on the street for money. The structure is key to completing the program smoothly and adequately.

Someone who seeks treatment for heroin addiction must meet with a counselor, so the process is conducted in group settings or individual therapy. This form of therapy is important for their mental state during their recovery stage. While they are going through recovery, the recovering addict must havehang out support and someone to keep them accountable and also allow them to open up freely with how they are feeling throughout the process. Someone who is in recovery does not just simply stop using heroin. They have to accept their lifestyle change by realizing they can no longer hangout with the crowd that once encouraged the drug abuse. They need to reevaluate who their supportive and positive influences are. Sometimes the influence can be stronger than the intervention and it is why they need to change who they allow in their life. Many recovering addicts who form a stable home life, a full-time job, and a ddrug-freerug free social environment are more likely to stay sober. The role of counseling is a pivotal ingredient in the treatment process. The client goes from drug addict to patient, treated with respect and dignity (Bell, 2012). Outreach is so important and the ones who want to seek treatment if they know that they can come to a safe place where they feel comfortcareand cared about. It is important for recovering addicts to not only know but understand that they are not alone because addiction is not easy and no one should deal with it alone.

Conclusion

Throughout this research, the epidemic of heroin was examined from many perspectives and, many statistics haehas shown just how widespread heroin is and how it has taken over the streets in the United States. With negatives, positives always appear which are the several options for treatment is inner-citya positive for anyone struggling with addiction. Heroin addiction has gone from an inner city struggle to an outbreak that has corrupted small rural towns throughout America.

Heroin is a substance that has been around for hundreds of years, but it was prescribed to people in the late 1800s. Prescribers realized that people were become hooked on the substance that gave them a high. A ban was placed on the highly addictive drug, which raised the amount that was found and sold on the streets illegally. As it rises in America, so do, the treatments and not only are there therapeutic intervention options, where counselors will go over the emotional changes the client is experiencingwithdrawal but there is also a psychiatric intervention, that will assist in chemically relieving withdraw symptoms. The debate has been discussed throughout the news and conflicts have erupted on social media on whether addiction is a disease or not. While it was once a choice to take the first pill or insert the first injection, chemically, the patient is hooked and cannot quit without suffering the consequences. According to research on the brain, addiction is a disease. After taking a drug, in this case, periods heroin, for extended periods of time, it alters the brain (Carlson, 2014).

Out of the millions of abuse opioids, the majority choose heroin as their opioid of choice. The statistics arerising raising and the epidemic crisis of heroin addiction is reaching more people than it ever has before. Programs are being put in place to monitor prescription use and what prescriptions have been prescribed. The government is taking a stand in this deadly outbreak and instilling programs to ensure that future families do not have to suffer from the loss of a loved one who let heroin defeat them. Too many people, millions, have been ofvictim to heroin. The crisis is happening in almost every neighborhood and maybe with strict treatment and widespread outreach, there can be more victorious recovering addicts than the addictivesis.

References:

1. Banerjee, G., Edelman, E. J., Barry, D. T., Becker, W. C., Cerdá, M., Crystal, S., . . . Marshall, B. D. L. (2016). Non‐medical use of prescription opioids is associated with heroin initiation among US veterans: A prospective cohort study. Addiction, 111(11), 2021- 2031. doi:10.1111/add.13491
2. Bell, J. (2012). Buprenorphine in the treatment of heroin addiction. DusunenDusun Adam, 25(2), 93- 100.
3. Carlson, N. R. (2014). Foundations of behavioral neuroscience (9th ed.). Boston: Pearson.
4. Heroin Addiction Fact Sheet. (2010, October 1).
5. Hall, W., & Weier, M. (2017). Lee robins’ studies of heroin use among US Vietnamof veterans. Addiction, 112(1), 176-180. doi:10.1111/add.13584
6. Hesselbrock, M. N., & Robins, J. M. (2010). Introduction. American Journal On Addictions, 19(3), 202.
7. Kanel, K. (2015). A guide to crisis intervention (5th ed.). Cengage Learning.
8. Salani, D. A., Zdanowicz, M., & Joseph, L. (2016). Heroin use. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing & Mental Health Services, 54(6), 30-37. doi:http://dx.doi.org.ezproxy.liberty.edu/10.3928/02793695-20160518-05