Over the past few years, heroin overdoses have become way too common. I’ve personally been affected with heroin overdoses as three kids that I went to high school with all overdosed in the past 3 years. The county in Northern New Jersey where I’m from has had a substantial increase in overdoses over the past few years.
A study was done on 28 states comparing the increase in heroin overdoses as well as overdoses related to opioid pain relievers (OPR). From 1999-2010, the deaths from OPR’s have quadrupled, heroin associated deaths increased by less that 50%. Since 2010 the amount of deaths related to heroin have increased from 1 person out of every 100,000 to 2.1 people out of every 100,000. The deaths from OPR overdoses have actually declined since 2010. It decreased from 6 deaths out of every 100,000 per year to 5.6 per 100,000 people per year. The heroin death rates have increased at the same rate for both sexes, all age groups, all census regions, and all racial/ethnic groups other than American Indians and Alaska Natives. OPR overdoses have declined significantly among males, persons less than 45 years, persons in the South, and non-Hispanic whites.
Prevention efforts need to be increased across the board for all heroin users, as there are no specific demographics that are increasing more significantly. From my personal experience, I’ve seen athletes come down with serious injuries and be prescribed prescription painkillers for their injuries. These athletes have then become addicted and dependent on the drug, and they eventually switch to heroin for the same feeling but at a cheaper price. I feel that there needs to be more serious and structured programs for painkiller prescriptions. I recently broke my ankle and was prescribed Percocet for the pain after my surgery, and can see how easily someone could become addicted to that feeling. Luckily for me, my mom is a nurse and was able to make sure I was following what I needed to, and stop when I needed to. People who don’t have this guidance can abuse these pills and become addicted. When the pills become to expensive, heroin becomes the next option for these addicts. This chain of events needs to be looked into on how to stop it.
References:
Increases in heroin overdose deaths – 28 States, 2010 to 2012.
MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2014 Oct 3;63(39):849-54.
Rudd RA, Paulozzi LJ, Bauer MJ, Burleson RW, Carlson RE, Dao D, Davis JW, Dudek J, Eichler BA, Fernandes JC, Fondario A, Gabella B, Hume B, Huntamer T, Kariisa M, Largo TW, Miles J, Newmyer A, Nitcheva D, Perez BE, Proescholdbell SK, Sabel JC, Skiba J, Slavova S, Stone K, Tharp JM, Wendling T, Wright D, Zehner AM.
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