The Heroin epidemic

[Jersey mike]

Hello all,

Our online local news called The Patch (The Patch is news across the country from almost every state and their local towns have their own local news stories. Sometime different stories are shared to all Patch locations) ran an article on our local problem with heroin and had a short video included so I found it on YouTube and am posting it here and asking you share it with those you know, love and care for.

I have already sent it to my children and told them it was not a request to read our local news story and I want them to watch the video as well.

I don't know what the answer is to stop this problem but being open and talking about it to our loved one can't be that bad a way to start.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Qdj65B1lxVc

[Thunderbolt]

Touching story and true how close it can be and we not even know.

[dreamaker]

You know, it is not a heroin epidemic, it is a stupidity epidemic. You have to go to the root cause, heroin is the results of one's stupidity. I my younger days the people I associated with were druggies and attics. I didn't judge people, I excepted them for what they were, my parents taught me to think for myself, and consider the consequences of my actions. That always kept me on the straight and narrow, we all have brains and we all have choices, it is up to us to make the right ones. And if we don't we always have the option of excuses, and pointing finger at others for our bad choices. Don't mean to appear cruel, but life is not fair, and everyone needs to be accountable and not look for pity and sympathy.

[dragonslayer]

If you look at what is going on ,it's not so much an epidemic as it is what these dealers,suppliers are mixing to cut the Heroin with.Some really nasty stuff.I know keep the gov. out of it but there will always be junkies and if the stuff they are taking was regulated,supplied by reputable drug firms  there wouldn't be all these people dying.Not looking for an argument just looking at facts.

[Robert]

Its a shame that drugs are running rampant in our system and destroy so many people and lives. The new head Dr for the US says its a disease, I agree more with dreamaker.

When a person is on drugs no one wins, the individual has a slim chance of recovery. So they themselves pay and the families pay. The insurance companies and government pay for treatment which means we pay. There is increase in crime and prostitution even in good areas that have drug treatment programs and whole areas turned into blight, which means we pay. All the time they come under an American with disabilities act that has a whole range of special privileges with it, including half way houses that cannot be challenged legally. Also with tax benefits and alot of cash in the half way houses they have the power to turn good neighborhoods into bad by buying houses in good areas and driving good families out.  They effectively run a business in a residential area with no oversight and no regulation and no restriction. They can buy where they want do what they want and not answer to anyone and run a business. I also wonder if anyone really recovers becuase from all I have seen they are never the same after the drugs.

[Jersey mike]

You know, it is not a heroin epidemic, it is a stupidity epidemic. You have to go to the root cause, heroin is the results of one's stupidity. I my younger days the people I associated with were druggies and attics. I didn't judge people, I excepted them for what they were, my parents taught me to think for myself, and consider the consequences of my actions. That always kept me on the straight and narrow, we all have brains and we all have choices, it is up to us to make the right ones. And if we don't we always have the option of excuses, and pointing finger at others for our bad choices. Don't mean to appear cruel, but life is not fair, and everyone needs to be accountable and not look for pity and sympathy.

your opinion doesn't seem cruel or anything like that. I'm a big supporter of personal accountability, believe me I've made many bad choices in my life which sucked having to own up to and accept it was my own bad decision that got me in positions I didn't want to be in.

That being said, I didn't post this to create a battle over right or wrong regarding the decision to use heroin. All I was hoping to accomplish was to reach out to folks and talk to their kids, grandkids, nephews, nieces, cousins or whomever your loved ones are.

One thing I know about heroin is misery loves company and those who have become addicted wish they could have that day back when they first put that needle in their arm because "a friend" said it was OK or they were some how guilted into "just trying it".

I've never been a big Neil Young fan ( I was a bigger fan of CSN&Y and Buffalo Springfield) but this song always stuck in my head, it's direct and to the point from 1972.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-WUo4sFGgA

Many years (25 +/-) ago someone I knew had a problem with heroin. . He was about 4 years older than me and wasn't someone I hung out with but we kind of had many mutual friends and friends of friends. He always busted my chops about stuff and kidded around with me, but always stuck up for me when people older than him started busting my chops and acting like tough guys.

He was out one night with other people. He had shot up and was in a bad way when "they" dumped him on the side of a 7-11 late at night. LEO believe he was alive when he was left there but died. From our shop, thru a fence and across a bar's rear parking lot I get to look at the place he died every day. I never found out who he was with that dropped him off. Some people knew but told me to just let it go, "they" were going to get theirs.

I'll leave it with this from Steppenwolf;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XqyGoE2Q4Y&list=RD3XqyGoE2Q4Y

[hubcapsc]

The story is that the epidemic stems from people who get hooked
on their prescription drugs, then move on to  "doctor shopping"
and finally to the underworld. I fear a push to make it harder
to get prescriptions for the good pain medicine.

-Mike "as anyone who's ever had a kidney stone should be"

[baldo]

Last year HBO made a documentary on the heroin crisis here on the Cape. Heroin has always been a problem here, but it was generally in the fishing towns in the off-season, talking years ago. Now it's everywhere, just like everywhere else.

Here's a link to the full show..... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPcG6rMTPrY

My kids went to school with two of the kids profiled, and two of the women in the group shown are friends of ours.....

There seems to be no end to it....

[3fan4life]

Addiction is a disease that results from a combination of a lack of willpower and poor decision making.

(Let that sink in for a moment).


Anyone of us has the potential to be addicted to something............

The lack of willpower to not do drugs in the first place is part of the problem.

Heroin has a strong potential for addicting a person with even a single use.

While the phrase, "Just Say No To Drugs" is a tired old adage.

It is still the safest and best choice.

According to CDC statistics If a person is using other drugs or alcohol they are much more likely to become addicted to heroin.




This interactive map really shows what an epidemic heroin addiction has become in the US:


https://www.theguardian.com/society/ng-interactive/2016/may/25/opioid-epidemic-overdose-deaths-map  

Opioid addiction (Heroin and Narcotic Painkillers) has become such an epidemic that the antidote for overdose (Narcan) is now an over the counter drug in 23 states. And the Federal Government is pushing for it to be available over the counter in all 50 states.

Death from both Heroin and prescription painkillers has had a sharp rise since 2011:


 

I don't even have a theory as to why these numbers have risen so sharply in recent years.

And I'm not sure as to what the solution is.

Stiffer penalties on those addicted to the drugs certainly doesn't seem to be the answer.

I'll bet that stiffer penalties on those convicted of dealing drugs wouldn't hurt though.


It should be easier for people battling addiction to get into REAL treatment programs.


Personally, I'd like to see more Christian based treatment programs.

The person battling addiction simply has too many High Hurdles to jump to have much hope of being successful on their own.

In fact the experience that I do have with people battling drug and or alcohol addiction has shown me that very few can successfully battle the demons of addiction without God's help.  

[dreamaker]

You know, it is not a heroin epidemic, it is a stupidity epidemic. You have to go to the root cause, heroin is the results of one's stupidity. I my younger days the people I associated with were druggies and attics. I didn't judge people, I excepted them for what they were, my parents taught me to think for myself, and consider the consequences of my actions. That always kept me on the straight and narrow, we all have brains and we all have choices, it is up to us to make the right ones. And if we don't we always have the option of excuses, and pointing finger at others for our bad choices. Don't mean to appear cruel, but life is not fair, and everyone needs to be accountable and not look for pity and sympathy.

your opinion doesn't seem cruel or anything like that. I'm a big supporter of personal accountability, believe me I've made many bad choices in my life which sucked having to own up to and accept it was my own bad decision that got me in positions I didn't want to be in.

That being said, I didn't post this to create a battle over right or wrong regarding the decision to use heroin. All I was hoping to accomplish was to reach out to folks and talk to their kids, grandkids, nephews, nieces, cousins or whomever your loved ones are.

One thing I know about heroin is misery loves company and those who have become addicted wish they could have that day back when they first put that needle in their arm because "a friend" said it was OK or they were some how guilted into "just trying it".

I've never been a big Neil Young fan ( I was a bigger fan of CSN&Y and Buffalo Springfield) but this song always stuck in my head, it's direct and to the point from 1972.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-WUo4sFGgA

Many years (25 +/-) ago someone I knew had a problem with heroin. . He was about 4 years older than me and wasn't someone I hung out with but we kind of had many mutual friends and friends of friends. He always busted my chops about stuff and kidded around with me, but always stuck up for me when people older than him started busting my chops and acting like tough guys.

He was out one night with other people. He had shot up and was in a bad way when "they" dumped him on the side of a 7-11 late at night. LEO believe he was alive when he was left there but died. From our shop, thru a fence and across a bar's rear parking lot I get to look at the place he died every day. I never found out who he was with that dropped him off. Some people knew but told me to just let it go, "they" were going to get theirs.

I'll leave it with this from Steppenwolf;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XqyGoE2Q4Y&list=RD3XqyGoE2Q4Y

I think I can understand exactly where you are coming from, some my friends, acquaintances, have been beaten with a shovels and drug in a back of a car over smack. People I grew up with, and went to school with, found dead in motels on the floor with works still in their arms. So I think I know how you may feel.

[fudgie]

Its big in my county. We have a OD or 2 every week. It died off a few yrs ago but made a big comeback last yr or 2 since the crack down on Rx narcs. Its cheaper. We had over twice as much OD's as 3 other counties combines last yr.

In Ind any pharmacy will will give free narcan to anyone. I have no opinion on that. 

[Jersey mike]

The story is that the epidemic stems from people who get hooked
on their prescription drugs, then move on to  "doctor shopping"
and finally to the underworld. I fear a push to make it harder
to get prescriptions for the good pain medicine.

-Mike "as anyone who's ever had a kidney stone should be"

I have to agree with you about the story and the relationship between pain meds and heroin but not all can have that background.

Whatever the case is, it's a shame for everyone involved.

[Wizzard]

I have a daughter that got hooked on this stuff 13 years ago because of a "dare" from a friend. I spent tons of money trying to help her and got nowhere. It got to the point that I would go pick up my grandaughter just to get her out of there as she was only 2 yrs old.
Finally one night I got the dreaded call. Had to sit in ER with my daughter and she almost died squeezing my hand the whole time. It was gut wrenching but through much prayer she survived.
She ditched her drug abusing husband,, moved back in with me and at that point was hooked on methadone which the doctors sub for heroin withdrawls. One day she told me that stuff made her skin crawl and she was going to quit. For the next 3 months I had to endure listening to her get up in the middle of the night dry heaving so bad I could hardly stand it. I would lay there in bed and pull the pillow over my head so I could not hear it but to no avail. After 3 months of this it quit and that was 12 years ago. Now she is a worship leader at her church, leads an addiction program and helps others who are addicted. She had to develop a whole new group of friends and ditch the old ones as they kept calling her for up to 3 years trying to get her to come back and join them.
From what i witnessed, she is one of the strongest people I know and a great example of what can be done.

[hubcapsc]

After 3 months of this it quit and that was 12 years ago.

    

-Mike

[Jess from VA]

I don't even have a theory as to why these numbers have risen so sharply in recent years.

While not all abusers are unemployed, it is likely because some 40% are now permanently out of work (mostly on purpose) on the G dole, and they have unlimited time on their hands.   

[The emperor has no clothes]

I have a daughter that got hooked on this stuff 13 years ago because of a "dare" from a friend. I spent tons of money trying to help her and got nowhere. It got to the point that I would go pick up my grandaughter just to get her out of there as she was only 2 yrs old.
Finally one night I got the dreaded call. Had to sit in ER with my daughter and she almost died squeezing my hand the whole time. It was gut wrenching but through much prayer she survived.
She ditched her drug abusing husband,, moved back in with me and at that point was hooked on methadone which the doctors sub for heroin withdrawls. One day she told me that stuff made her skin crawl and she was going to quit. For the next 3 months I had to endure listening to her get up in the middle of the night dry heaving so bad I could hardly stand it. I would lay there in bed and pull the pillow over my head so I could not hear it but to no avail. After 3 months of this it quit and that was 12 years ago. Now she is a worship leader at her church, leads an addiction program and helps others who are addicted. She had to develop a whole new group of friends and ditch the old ones as they kept calling her for up to 3 years trying to get her to come back and join them.
From what i witnessed, she is one of the strongest people I know and a great example of what can be done.

Thanks for sharing your story Wizzard. I can't imagine what you and your wife went thru. I have a son that has made many stupid choices in his short life. As far as I know heroin hasn't been one yet, but living on the edge waiting for the call is something I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy.

[Jersey mike]

I have a daughter that got hooked on this stuff 13 years ago because of a "dare" from a friend. I spent tons of money trying to help her and got nowhere. It got to the point that I would go pick up my grandaughter just to get her out of there as she was only 2 yrs old.
Finally one night I got the dreaded call. Had to sit in ER with my daughter and she almost died squeezing my hand the whole time. It was gut wrenching but through much prayer she survived.
She ditched her drug abusing husband,, moved back in with me and at that point was hooked on methadone which the doctors sub for heroin withdrawls. One day she told me that stuff made her skin crawl and she was going to quit. For the next 3 months I had to endure listening to her get up in the middle of the night dry heaving so bad I could hardly stand it. I would lay there in bed and pull the pillow over my head so I could not hear it but to no avail. After 3 months of this it quit and that was 12 years ago. Now she is a worship leader at her church, leads an addiction program and helps others who are addicted. She had to develop a whole new group of friends and ditch the old ones as they kept calling her for up to 3 years trying to get her to come back and join them.
From what i witnessed, she is one of the strongest people I know and a great example of what can be done.

I hope this doesn't come off as too cliché but the Lord travels in mysterious ways. Something gave your daughter had the strength to fight and it worked.  You guys are lucky and blessed to have her. I hope some day our paths cross and I can meet you both.  As I said, misery loves company and you managed to get her away from that part of her life. WOW you're one of the lucky ones.

[Wizzard]

I have a daughter that got hooked on this stuff 13 years ago because of a "dare" from a friend. I spent tons of money trying to help her and got nowhere. It got to the point that I would go pick up my grandaughter just to get her out of there as she was only 2 yrs old.
Finally one night I got the dreaded call. Had to sit in ER with my daughter and she almost died squeezing my hand the whole time. It was gut wrenching but through much prayer she survived.
She ditched her drug abusing husband,, moved back in with me and at that point was hooked on methadone which the doctors sub for heroin withdrawls. One day she told me that stuff made her skin crawl and she was going to quit. For the next 3 months I had to endure listening to her get up in the middle of the night dry heaving so bad I could hardly stand it. I would lay there in bed and pull the pillow over my head so I could not hear it but to no avail. After 3 months of this it quit and that was 12 years ago. Now she is a worship leader at her church, leads an addiction program and helps others who are addicted. She had to develop a whole new group of friends and ditch the old ones as they kept calling her for up to 3 years trying to get her to come back and join them.
From what i witnessed, she is one of the strongest people I know and a great example of what can be done.

I hope this doesn't come off as too cliché but the Lord travels in mysterious ways. Something gave your daughter had the strength to fight and it worked.  You guys are lucky and blessed to have her. I hope some day our paths cross and I can meet you both.  As I said, misery loves company and you managed to get her away from that part of her life. WOW you're one of the lucky ones.

Thanks.
It must have all been in the master plan because when the cop showed up at her place when the ambulance picked her up,, he recognized her as my daughter and never filed any report as he said to another cop with him "I know this girls parents and I know they are not this kind of people so let me handle this case". When we got her out of the hospital the cop sat down with us all and said very sternly to my daughter, "I am going to keep this out of the records as long as your parents report to me in 3 months that you are succesfuly  completing rehab". She did,, we did and  he did as he said and we never looked back. We are lucky on many counts by the grace of God.

[JimC]

The heroin epidemic is everywhere. It has no social boundaries any more.

I live in a white collar area half way between Milwaukee and Madison WI. and we have an issue, it is not just the inner cities any more. I personally had a heroin den in the house next door to me for 18 months. I knew what was going on, reported it to my former co-workers, and they turned it over to the county drug enforcement unit. They played with it for so long trying to get the big supplier, that I threatened to call the news papers and tv stations. I told them I was going to march in from of it with a sign saying drug house. That worked, they raided it a week later. We had three OD's the last month it was in operation.

The main reason it is getting so popular is cost. It cost about $10 today for a heroin fix because of the high level of drug trafficking. Compare that to $20 a pill for Oxycontin or other drugs like it.

People (kids) get hooked on the pain meds from parents, or relatives medicine cabinets, and when they can't get any more, they end up going for the heroin. Adults are having a hard time getting the pain med prescriptions filled like they used to, so they too are getting hooked.

Jim