Heroin Use, Abuse And Addiction

This paper is intended to educate those who almost nothing about heroin and those who use it. Many people have been associated with friends or families who have used some kind of drug. There are many people who have not had any contact with heroin users or if they have, don’t understand much about it. Using various sources about heroin to explain where it came from, how it is used, who uses it and how a person starts on the path towards heroin, preventing addiction, and global issues surrounding this drug. Although the topic of heroin is inexhaustible, it is my hope to spark reader’s curiosity. Knowledge of this drug might just help the reader join in on discussions about heroin.

Methadone has been used since the late 1960s to treat heroin addictions. Methadone is a synthetic opioid that is highly addictive and is harder to withdraw from than heroin. Despite 50 years of experience and widespread acceptance by addiction specialists and health agencies, Methadone Maintenance Treatment (MMT) has sometimes been publicly controversial in the U.S. and other countries. MMT is a program in which addicted individuals receive daily doses of methadone as part of a broad, multicomponent treatment plan (Methadone Maintence Treatment, 2002). Critics argue that methadone doesn’t actually help heroin addicts, but just replaces heroin with an equally addictive methadone (Mason, 2013). From my perspective, methadone should not be given to heroin addicts because it does not

The ancient practice of yoga is called meditation in motion ( ). It is a technique that uses physical postures and controlled breathing to lengthen and strengthen the spine and increase flexibility. It also builds strength, calms the mind, improves concentration, promotes patience, and relieves stress. Yoga can also contribute to a greater sense of control in more acute states when experiencing drug cravings, insomnia, and agitation ( ). Many addicts in recovery find that the serenity they learned in yoga acts as a natural tranquilizer that allows them to step back and evaluate their thoughts with greater clarity. A person who experiences a craving, for example, may apply the practice of mindfulness to that craving and acknowledges it without emotion. One can recognize it as an object of active addiction and let it go without using the drug. Regular yoga practice is needed to fully experience these kind of benefits. Overall, the huge addiction problem is complex, requiring multiple methods of intervention and

Heroin drug use is being addressed within the broader topic of substance abuse in the United States under Healthy People 2020, a 10-year plan to improve the nation’s overall health. Understanding how heroin drug use is addressed in Healthy People 2020 is especially important to public health and community health professionals. According to healthypeople.gov, 22 million Americans struggles with some form of substance abuse, including heroin. Healthy People 2020 outlines objectives for reducing overall substance abuse in the nation in upcoming years through policy, prevention,

Heroin use and addiction has historically been a problem in large cities within disadvantaged neighborhoods (Levengood, Lowinger, & Schooff, 1973). However, in recent years, many suburban, higher income communities have been affected by heroin and its victims are becoming much younger than the typical heroin addict. According to a qualitative study done on young heroin users in Baltimore, Maryland, the new generation of heroin users have a different demographic profile than older heroin users in that area. There are many factors that may have contributed to the heroin epidemic such as prescription opioid use that was replaced with a cheaper and more readily available drug, heroin. In this literature review, four scholarly, peer reviewed

Heroin addiction is a growing epidemic, especially here on Long Island. People of all ages, gender, race, and ethnic backgrounds struggle with this addiction. Heroin is a highly addictive analgesic illegal drug, that many people abuse. The disease of addiction is a powerful illness, that is difficult to recover from. Many wonder if there will ever be a cure. Addicts go through many stages of recovery, and many do not make it through treatment, and unfortunately relapse. Now that it is a common issue in the United States, healthcare workers face many issues regarding caring for patients with addiction, whether it may be in a hospital or rehabilitation setting, or a mental institution. It is a nurse’s responsibility to be aware and knowledgable about this serious disease and how to care for patients who are withdrawing from the drug.

According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 669,000 Americans reported using heroin in the year of 2012. The number of people using heroin for the first time is dramatically high, with 156,000 people starting in 2012, doubling from the year 2009 (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2014) Those using heroin are typically adults aged between 18-25 years old. The impact of heroin is felt all over the United States affecting many people. Heroin is identified as one of the most important drug issues, therefore this is a social problem that is becoming typical, and more people are coming across negative health effects due to it.

The portrait of a heroin addict. Images emerge of a homeless junkie huddled in the corner of a subway seat at 3:00am feening for his next hit. Or the drug addict laid out on a New York City bench, just skin and bones, with syringes littering the ground below. What probably does not come to mind is a picture of the perky cheerleader rooting her team on to victory at a Friday night football game, nor does a vision of the mother of three living in the suburbs with her husband working for a Fortune 500 company in her Executive position. However, these are some of the real people who are falling victim to the temptation of heroin on a daily basis. Heroin deaths are surging amongst suburban whites and the impact of the drug has taken a devastating turn. The heroin epidemic in the United States is entering a new stage in the war on drugs.

Heroin and its subsequent misuse has been a contentious issue plaguing society for decades. With the advent of the internet, it is becoming more difficult to curtail many of the illegal activities individuals engage in regards to drug use. Heroin in particular is very pervasive in the United States as it is a drug that is highly addictive. In America, drugs are becoming a very serious issue as immigrants enter into the country illegally carrying the drug with them. Heroin, although mainly created in Afghanistan and China, is often brought to the United States illegally from Latin countries. By entering into the country these individuals provide drugs and other narcotics to disseminate among the masses. Even more troublesome, it seems that little is being done to help prevent the influence of drugs within American society (Eric, 2008). According to the 2008 National Survey on Drug Use, the number of current heroin users increased from 153,000 in 2007 to 213,000 in 2008. One issue that is especially interesting is substance abuse among many young individuals and how that affects HIV rates within the American population. Many individuals are not concerned with drug use among the young population. It is my contention however, that drug use among the young has a profound impact on the society in which we live in.

This causes a broad range of heroin seeking behavior. It has become evident that users who are dependent on prescribed opiates may have a lifetime of addiction. Prescribed opioids are plentiful in many communities. Heroin is generally injected or snorted, but prescribed opiates are administered orally. According to Michelle Peavy, “Prescription opioid abuse presents a unique set of challenges for health educators, outreach workers, treatment providers, and others whose mission it is to disseminate substance use of prevention and risk reduction information”

It is vital to analyze and combat the abuse of heroin. Various forms of literature have been written investigating heroin, their abuse and effects of misusing them.

Heroin addiction is a chronically relapsing disease, usually characterized by tendencies such as drug seeking, drug abuse, tolerance and physical dependence. Substance abuse disorders have increased the levels of morbidity and mortality and with a consequent significant increase in HIV spread across the globe. Heroin increases psychiatric disorders, especially with mood anxiety, impulse control, and imbalance –related disorders.

Heroin abuse has shown itself at various times in the history of abuse of substances across time. Innovative plans to address addiction, early prevention and education, along with new strategies to eliminate the source of drugs all need to be explored in a timely, expedited

On November 5, 2015 Edinboro University hosted an event in the student center. It was a two hour seminar on heroin use. There were speakers on how heroin have been around the Erie community for years. People who have used heroin in the past talked about how it have affected their lives. This seminar and the speakers used this event to respond what has happened in their community. While the program was going on I learned some facts on actually what heroin can do to someone when continually using.

Depression plays a huge role on why so many addicts tend to commit suicide. Like mentioned earlier, heroin ties you in with first use, after that, it is downhill from there. It locks you in with what seems to be no way out. Their minds are set that the only way to relieve the pain is to commit suicide. Addicts to this drug will show signs of wanting to escape and will show risky behavior. Users will become careless to death, he or she will have attempts to suicide before the act is completed. Heroin is a road to death, and according to Peter G. Miller, PH.D., Suicide is consistently reported to be one of the four major related causes of death among heroin users, with heroin-related overdose being the most common (Davoli et al., 1993). Death due to suicide among heroin users occurs at 14 times the rate of matched peers”. It is tough to get an addict the proper help they need. For recovery, they will need to want to make a change themselves. If a user does not want the help, they will not get the full rehabilitation and wing right back onto the drug without hesitation.