York County Heroin Analysis

Heroin and opioids have grown in appearance in communities. Since, 2008 in Allegheny County alone there was more than two thousand overdose deaths, with one hundred-seventy-seven deaths in this year alone (Pennsylvania). Furthermore, in 2015 there was only one -hundred-twenty-six;

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.

A huge epidemic that is obtaining a lot of attention from Congress and medical professionals across the county is the spiking heroin overdoses that are rising at alarming rates. (Krisberg, 2014). My question to everyone that is researching this topic is this:

The heroin epidemic in New Jersey has been more and more relevant in 2016 and in the past few months. There was a report earlier this year of a mother and father overdosing on heroin in a car with their toddler in the backseat. This along with other sad and tragic stories have shaped the public narrative of the heroin epidemic in New Jersey. A report last year by New Jersey Advance Media notes that the per-capita rate of 8.3 heroin-related deaths per 100,000 people is more than triple the national rate reported by the Centers for Disease Control (Hochman). Ocean County seems to be one of the impacted communities in New Jersey. The death toll in this county and many other in Jersey have been rising. Researchers have found that dealers in New Jersey are adding more Fentanyl, an opioid painkiller a hundred times more powerful than morphine, to the heroin and thus sells at higher rates because it produces a better and bigger high. And the purity of heroin in Jersey is higher than the average. The fact that drug dealers are cutting their product with deadly toxins, that make it more addictive and more dangerous and most importantly keeps the cost low. Heroin has morphine mixed in it and can be a more affordable stand in for painkillers. A bag of heroin goes for about $5 or $10 whereas painkillers go for about $40 or $50. The affordability of the drug and the addictive nature

The alarming increase in heroin overdoses has influenced the government to consider making Narcan, a drug used to reverse the effects of opiates, available to the public. Currently, Narcan is used by Emergency Medical Services to save addicts lives in the case of overdoses.

The well rated Durham Police force is introducing a plan to distribute Class A drugs, Heroin, to long time users. The hope is by providing the drugs and a safe way and place for them to be used, it will reduce crime by eliminating the externalities that comes with addicts trying to gain possession and using the drugs including crimes and other adverse

I spoke with a good friend of mine Robert Ramos about this issue. He is a recently retired, 17-year veteran of the Attleboro Police Force in Massachusetts. He stated the problem is that with the addition of Fentanyl, a painkiller, heroin has gained an increase in popularity and has become more fatal. Overdoses from heroin laced with the painkiller Fentanyl jumped to new levels across New England over this past year.

Shockingly, the state of Vermont has become one of the heroin capitals in the United States (Tron, 2014). According to Vermont Governor Pete Shumlin, roughly two millions dollars worth of heroin comes into the state every week (Tron, 2014). Nearly 80 percent of Vermont’s inmate population is behind bars for drug related crimes (Tron, 2014). Since major interstate roads flow through Vermont, such as Boston and New York City, it makes it easy for drug traffickers to move heroin into Vermont (Tron, 2014). In 2013, the number of heroin related deaths doubled in Vermont, and the amount of individuals getting treated for opiate abuse increased by 770 percent between 2000 and 2014 (Tron, 2014). The drug heroin has taken the lives of many Vermonters,

Nonmedical Prescription-Opioid abuse in the United States and Michigan has continued to rise, and with it, the devastating results that accompany it. Research has shown that increased opioid abuse leads to an increase in overdose and death, increases in crime and increased incidences of costly blood borne diseases like HIV, AIDS and Hepatitis. It also leads to increased societal costs, such as an increasing number of children in foster care and increased healthcare, workplace and criminal justice costs that can decimate communities and local budgets. Many communities were caught with their heads in the sand, as they were overwhelmed by the influx of prescription opioids into their communities. When policies were finally implemented to curb the amount of prescription opioids in their communities, rates of heroin use (also an opioid) began to skyrocket and people began realizing they had an opioid epidemic on their hands. How to combat this heroin epidemic has been the topic of many debates. This article will attempt to examine the relationship of nonmedical prescription-opioid abuse and its effects on heroin use.

In Anika Reed’s article “Drug Abuse”, it is reported that between 59,000 and 65,000 people died from drug related overdoses last year. In fact, it is a 19% increase from 2015, which is the most substantial annual increase ever recorded. Not only that but opioids, heroin and painkillers, took a major part in that statistic by raking in a whopping 33,000 Americans, and for the first time in recent history heroin surpassed gun homicides. This is a rather alarming set of statistics, each of these deaths affected not only loved ones but the humans who serve to save these lives. Consequently, in 2014, opioids were responsible for 1.27 million emergency room visits, 99% rise since 2005, and impatient care which was also a 64% increase (Reed). Ultimately, overdose related deaths are only going to continue unless we as country pull together and fight against addiction

The Deputy coroner for Kendall County, Jacquie Purcell, reported 3 deaths to the DEA. Ms. Purcell was informed to keep an eye out to see if the heroin usage was a trend or just a bad batch that had gotten out. Also, the Deputy Coroner for Kane County, Loren Carrera, reported that Kendall county deaths from heroin are underreported. This is due to the fact that some residents will go to Mercy Center or Copley Hospital for assistance which is not in Kendall County. Once the people do this, the incidence becomes a case for Kane County, not Kendall. With that being said, Deputy Chief Terry Klingel of Yorkville is in contact with officials at Kane County Police department to deal with the issue. According to Kendall County Sheriff Dwight Baird, “education is the only way to combat the drugs spread.” As a consequence, during his time as Chief in Oswego Illinois, the police department had a forum on the effects of heroin usage for the students at Oswego East High

The York community has been very effective in dealing with the heroine epidemic. Some efforts that have been most effective in dealing with it are NARCAN, the Good Samaritan Law, and the rehab program that the York and Adams county drug councilor talked about on Thursday.

As the war on drugs continues, more and more lives are being lost to opiate overdoses. Opiates are drugs that contain or are derived from the opium poppy plant. They can be legally prescribed pain medications such as OxyContin or Vicodin or illegal street drugs such as heroin. Whether these drugs are used legally or illegally, there is always the chance of an overdose if not used correctly. According to a 2014 press release from the Center for Disease Control (CDC), “in 2013 more than 16,000 deaths in the United States involved prescription opioids, and more than 8,000 others were related to heroin.”

Treatment centers in Pennsylvania admitted 42,205 persons with alcohol and drug addiction problems during 2014. Rehab programs enrolled 15,962 individuals for heroin addiction during 2014. This made up 37.8% of all Pennsylvania drug rehab enrollments that year. Other serious drug threats to residents of the state include alcohol addiction, prescription drugs and marijuana. While there are a number of different types of programs available for residents living in Pennsylvania, the best choice for severe addiction cases such as heroin addiction is long term inpatient rehab.

Records show that within Montgomery County the number of heroin overdose has significantly increased over time. Society is taking a destructive approach by punishing those who abuse drugs like heroin rather than treating the addiction as a disease that is needing to be cured. The improper handling of felons with drug