The Heroin Epidemic Essay

Tennessee is one of the states hit hardest by the nation’s opioid epidemic which began about 20 years ago and had a stark increase since 2009, now reaching unprecedented levels across the county with a 200% increase in the rate of deaths involving opioids (Rudd, Aleshire, Zibbell, & Gladden, 2016; Fletcher, 2016). In Tennessee specifically, it is estimated that about 1 in 6 abuse opioids; the CDC estimates that for every one person who dies from an opioid overdose in Tennessee there are 851 others in the state who are in various stages of their abuse, misuse, and treatment; and the most recent statistics show that opioid overdoses alone make up about 7.7% of deaths in Tennessee, making them responsible for more deaths than car accidents in the state (Botticelli, 2016; Rudd, Aleshire, Zibbell, & Gladden, 2016; Fletcher, 2016; ONDCP, 2016; Thompson, 2016).

Heroin, a powerful narcotic, acts upon the brain as a painkiller, increasing physical addiction and ongoing emotional dependence (Schaffer Library of…). Heroin has many challenging and highly risky effects on the user, all the more hazardous if overdosing is present. This extremely dangerous drug, heroin, will never cease being used, but may cease the existence of an individual.

There have been several news coverages on TV and social network about drug overdose of different cases recently and they have risen people’s concern about the problems of drug abuse national-wide. The drug abuse and opioid epidemic is not a new problem to the American society, actually it has been a serious problem for many years. So what is the situation of drug epidemic now, and how can we find effective ways to deal with this problem? A few writers who ponder this question are Nora D. Volkow, Dan Nolan and Chris Amico.

Volunteering to me didn’t seem very pleasing at first. My focus was simply getting the hours I needed to make my resume look good. However, my perspective changed when I began getting involved with the various activities of the community. I enjoyed helping and serving others, seeing the positive impact I made gave me a great satisfaction. Thankfully, I have volunteered in many areas, however there are a few organizations in which I have invested more time and effort.

The Opioid Epidemic in Canada and the USA and its Effects on the Health of the Affected Communities

Many people may not realize this but multiple states, including Michigan, are facing an epidemic. It is not a disease, however, it is a heroin epidemic. In a country where addictive opioid pain-killer prescriptions are handed out like candy, it not surprising heroin, also known as smack or thunder, has become a serious problem. The current heroin epidemic Michigan is facing, as are dozens of other states, has spiraled out of control in recent years. In Michigan, some of the areas hit hardest by this drug are in the southern portion of the state, like Wayne, Oakland, and Monroe Counties. The connection between painkillers and heroin may not be clear, but this is because both are classified as opioid drugs, and therefore cause many of the same positive and negative side effects. As a country, we are currently the largest consumer of opioids in the world; almost the entire world supply of hydrocodone (the opioid in Vicodin) and 81% of the world’s oxycodone (in Percocet and OxyContin) is used by the United States (Volkow). Along with consuming most of the world’s most common opioids, we have gone from 76 million of these prescriptions in 1991 to 207 million in 2013 – constantly increasing except for a small decrease starting in 2012 (Volkow). This widespread use has caused numerous consequences from increasing emergency room visits – for both painkillers and heroin – to sky-rocking overdose cases all over the country (Volkow). Michigan, unfortunately, currently has one of the

Chasing heroin is a documentary giving us insight information on the rapidly growing pandemic of addictions to drugs, notably heroin. The heroin epidemic is rising at an alarming

Hilliard as well as the country, is being ravaged by the growing heroin epidemic. Heroin overdoses have become the leading cause of death in the United States, killing 43,000 people annually. Heroin has a devastating effect on the individuals, and families of this community. Leaders are few and far between in Hilliard, and I believe that with enough leaders, heroin can be overcome through effective and intentional leadership. Leaders who care will help this community by helping heal the relationships between the addict and their family and community. I believe if this community stands up, not only can we rehabilitate addicts but heal this community with practices discovered in the Rat Park experiment.

“In 2002, 404,000 people used heroin in the United States. By 2016, there were 948,000 people. This is a 135% increases in the past 14 years” (Kounang). I decided to research about heroin, because I want to know what heroin is and which celebrities have done it and survived or died. I knew it was an addictive drug that many people overdose on. There was a lot of misconceptions that I had about heroin. Originally I thought heroin users become addicted instantly. I still have some questions about heroin. Why is heroin so popular? Who has done it? Even though some people think heroin is not bad, people should not take heroin because it's a highly effective drug and tons of people are dying from overdosing.

Heroin addicts have the psychological dependence on heroin that leads them into the state of self-destruction and the possibility of leading to death by the extreme use of heroin. Never estimate the poppy flower for its power that withholds the fiends to their mentality enduring the euphoria enslavement of the mind that contained for many centuries. The heroin addiction nation is a self numbing injection and dry approach to have the mind under the state of the greatest feeling of great happiness leaving the pain behind under the spell of heroin. Heroin comes in many forms for addicts to enjoy in their own way. They come in powder and rock like form that is combined with other narcotics. The snorting form for heroin is not

The United States is not immune to the worldwide drug addiction epidemic. Drugs pour in from Mexico daily, then distributed to throughout the country. The economic crisis in America is creating an excuse for drug use (e.g., depression, hopelessness). This chemical fix not only creates problems for the addict, but the family and community as well. Every addict has an enabler, a person who makes the addiction possible through various venues of support (e.g., financial, denial). Addicts are only concerned with their next fix and will resort to any means to obtain it (e.g., theft, prostitution, pan-handling). Some have even resorted to extremely desperate measures; for example, murder for inheritance or life insurance proceeds.

In my opinion, my community does not have a heroin epidemic. Honestly, I have never heard of heroin entering our little town. Being from a small town, I feel that not a lot goes on. Now I’m not saying that I live in a perfect community where it is completely drug free. But, sense I have lived here, there has never been any word about heroin.

The Netflix original film Heroin(e) opens to Deputy Chief Jan Rader of Huntington fire department responding to a death caused by an overdose on heroine. The death occurred in Cabell County in a bathroom of a pub neighboring apartments, a bank and a Subway. The film follows Deputy Chief Rader, Necia Freeman of the Brown Bag Ministry and Cabell county drug clerk Judge Patricia Keler in their efforts to fight what Deputy Chief Rader describes as epidemic sweeping the nation. As the film progresses it analyses the drug and the addictions associated while expressing the social effects, crime and recovery attempts.

Thesis: There are many contributing factors that can lead to heroin and other drug use among high school students, factors such as, the availability, peer pressure, and socio- economics issues.

Epidemiology is the study of incidence, distribution, and control of disease in a population (Merriam-Webster). In effort to construct a valid theory to the epidemic of heroin within affluent teenagers, the effect of heroin is labeled as the disease and the population is the affluent teenagers, with a focus in suburbia. According to Curriculum Review, 23 percent of those who try heroin will become addicted (cite source). However, the percentage varies amongst age groups, where it is reported the rate of teens using heroin soared by 80 percent between 1999 and 2009( cite source). This increased rate reflects a possibility to the increased rate of addiction amongst teens. Therefore, the long-term effect of heroin is addiction.