Heroin Deaths Quadruple

Heroin, derived from opium, had its beginnings in Asia. It made its way to the United States with the Chinese workers who came to the burgeoning West to work on building the railroads. The derivative, morphine, was developed in 1810 and was used in medical procedures to reduce pain. In 1874, heroin, another form derived from opium, was developed in Germany. It was marketed as being safe and non-addictive, but this was not the case. By 1920, Congress enacted the Dangerous Drug Act which made all of these substances illegal, but an underground market of addicts kept the money flowing.

The purity of the product increased when Colombian traffickers began undercutting previous Asian suppliers in New York City. The price of heroin dropped dramatically between 1988 and 1995, falling as much as 50 percent in 19 of the largest cities in America.

The Lure of Heroin

Heroin produces powerful effects on the brain, creating feelings of euphoria, as well as feelings of safety, calm and acceptance of others. It was often used by those living in deprived living conditions to allow them to withstand the daily assault on their humanity. However, it frequently crossed over to more affluent groups who were open to experimentation. Throughout the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s, a number of drugs went in and out of fashion, but heroin maintained a foothold in American society in some quarters. In 2012, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that 669,000 Americans reported using heroin in the past year. The number of people who tried heroin for the first time was 156,000, double the number reported in 2006.

Heroin Grows in Popularity

In the 1990s and 2000s, prescription drugs became the top choice among substance abusers. Legislatures around the country clamped down on “pill mill” doctors who made a good living providing prescription medication for addicts. As the supply of prescription drugs dried up, heroin came back into favor with addicts, looking to find that same smooth euphoria and sense of calm that opioid medications provided. Between the years of 2000 and 2013, the heroin deaths quadrupled, with a tripling of heroin deaths in just the last two years of the decade. The switch from prescription medications to heroin made it clear that heroin addiction had become one of the most pressing problems in the substance abuse treatment community. Inpatient treatment is often the best way to help these addicts recover from their addiction and resume their normal lives.

Heroin’s Dangers

Heroin users can be at increased risk for overdose deaths because of the nature of the drug. Opioids act on the part of the brain that regulates breathing. In addition, the effects of heroin and other opioids can vary greatly, depending on weight, strength of the dose and the degree of tolerance to the drug. Unaware of these changing factors, the addict can easily slip into unconsciousness and death.

Changes in Heroin Death Demographics

In previous periods, heroin use was mainly found in black urban communities. However, over recent years, the trend has indicated increased use in white communities. The drug has been gradually moving into suburban communities and rural communities. Heroin addicts are no longer the urban poor. Rather, they are middle class suburbanites with good jobs and nice homes whose lives have taken a dramatic turn into addiction. These circumstances can cause additional problems with rehab and recovery efforts, as the addicts return to a more affluent life that allows them to return to drug use easily.

Preventing Heroin Deaths with Naloxone

The rising death rate from heroin overdose is causing concerned activists to lobby for police to carry naloxone along with them, to be administered for any suspected heroin overdose call. Naloxone is a type of drug called an “opioid antagonist.” It works by blocking the effects of the opioid and can be successfully used to prevent deaths from overdose. The widespread use of naloxone among first responders can help to reduce the number of deaths from heroin overdose.