Heroin epidemic?

[Anonymous]

They start with prescription pain killers on a recreational use. They became addicted quickly -- some people almost the first time they use them. They need more and more of the pain killer to reach the same high. After they have used all their money and stolen what they can get away with, they turn to heroin because it is cheaper.

[Anonymous]

A lot of the shift to heroin happened when Oxycntin was reformulated to make it harder to abuse by sniffing, etc. It was basically pulling a drug off the market to those suffering from addiction to it. Heroin was cheaper and more easily accessible than a lot of the other available alternatives.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a terrible feeling in the pit of my stomach every time I think about this. In some rural communities, it is so widespread - think of all the children of these addicts. What is their future? We desperately need to do something about this problem, but what?

It seems not to be so simple as educating doctors (so that they don't over-prescribe opioids as pain meds). So what next?

Wow - it's almost like we need a war on drugs/crime, except it's fashionable right now to hate the war on drugs/crime.

It's in fashion to promote legalizing more and more types of drugs, and throw open the doors of our prisons so convicted criminals can be free to victimize the innocent. And vote - we need more criminals voting in our elections.

What is happening in America is total insanity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

It amazing to see this graph - the states with the most prescriptions have (1.) poor economic prospects and (2.) low degree of regulation from the state.

My ex's parents are both doctors in CT. They get lots of people coming in and asking for prescriptions. However they told me that the state has done a fantastic job of investigating and arresting doctors who give out prescriptions like candy. This type of stuff is primarily regulated at the state level, rather than at the Federal level. State governments that are in the pockets of Big Business - especially pharma and the state-level doctor associations - are the ones with the highest addiction rates.

This is really an enforcement issue - not users - but drug companies and criminally negligent doctors who receive kick-backs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

It amazing to see this graph - the states with the most prescriptions have (1.) poor economic prospects and (2.) low degree of regulation from the state.

My ex's parents are both doctors in CT. They get lots of people coming in and asking for prescriptions. However they told me that the state has done a fantastic job of investigating and arresting doctors who give out prescriptions like candy. This type of stuff is primarily regulated at the state level, rather than at the Federal level. State governments that are in the pockets of Big Business - especially pharma and the state-level doctor associations - are the ones with the highest addiction rates.

This is really an enforcement issue - not users - but drug companies and criminally negligent doctors who receive kick-backs.

Why would people from "coal country" - ie coal producing regions be abusing prescription drugs at such elevated levels?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

It amazing to see this graph - the states with the most prescriptions have (1.) poor economic prospects and (2.) low degree of regulation from the state.

My ex's parents are both doctors in CT. They get lots of people coming in and asking for prescriptions. However they told me that the state has done a fantastic job of investigating and arresting doctors who give out prescriptions like candy. This type of stuff is primarily regulated at the state level, rather than at the Federal level. State governments that are in the pockets of Big Business - especially pharma and the state-level doctor associations - are the ones with the highest addiction rates.

This is really an enforcement issue - not users - but drug companies and criminally negligent doctors who receive kick-backs.

Why would people from "coal country" - ie coal producing regions be abusing prescription drugs at such elevated levels?

Lots of work-related injuries -- not just from coal jobs, but from the physically demanding jobs many people with few opportunities and little education have.

Many people are on permanent SSI/disability.

History of familial drug use and addiction. Not unusual to have 3-4 generations of addicts living in one home.

Lack of education and jobs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

It amazing to see this graph - the states with the most prescriptions have (1.) poor economic prospects and (2.) low degree of regulation from the state.

My ex's parents are both doctors in CT. They get lots of people coming in and asking for prescriptions. However they told me that the state has done a fantastic job of investigating and arresting doctors who give out prescriptions like candy. This type of stuff is primarily regulated at the state level, rather than at the Federal level. State governments that are in the pockets of Big Business - especially pharma and the state-level doctor associations - are the ones with the highest addiction rates.

This is really an enforcement issue - not users - but drug companies and criminally negligent doctors who receive kick-backs.

Why would people from "coal country" - ie coal producing regions be abusing prescription drugs at such elevated levels?

Workplace injuries get people hooked. People who are out-of-work are depressed, having nothing better to do, and turn to drugs as an emotional balm. And then criminally negligent doctors end up refilling scripts in order to profit off their "patients."
It's a vicious cycle of greed and depression.

[Anonymous]

11:07 here. Watch "The Wild Whites of West Virginia" on Netflix to get an idea of what I mean.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a terrible feeling in the pit of my stomach every time I think about this. In some rural communities, it is so widespread - think of all the children of these addicts. What is their future? We desperately need to do something about this problem, but what?

It seems not to be so simple as educating doctors (so that they don't over-prescribe opioids as pain meds). So what next?

Wow - it's almost like we need a war on drugs/crime, except it's fashionable right now to hate the war on drugs/crime.

It's in fashion to promote legalizing more and more types of drugs, and throw open the doors of our prisons so convicted criminals can be free to victimize the innocent. And vote - we need more criminals voting in our elections.

What is happening in America is total insanity.

What's your solution?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a terrible feeling in the pit of my stomach every time I think about this. In some rural communities, it is so widespread - think of all the children of these addicts. What is their future? We desperately need to do something about this problem, but what?

It seems not to be so simple as educating doctors (so that they don't over-prescribe opioids as pain meds). So what next?

Wow - it's almost like we need a war on drugs/crime, except it's fashionable right now to hate the war on drugs/crime.

It's in fashion to promote legalizing more and more types of drugs, and throw open the doors of our prisons so convicted criminals can be free to victimize the innocent. And vote - we need more criminals voting in our elections.

What is happening in America is total insanity.

What's your solution?

I would begin by NOT releasing the types of convicted felons who the administration continues to release. Look at the list published n the WaPo earlier this week: most of them are repeat offenders; all were dealing drugs and most were selling meth, crack, or heroin - these are experienced career drug traffickers.

It's insanity to release them during a heroin epidemic.

[Anonymous]

anonymous wrote:#thanksobama

I don't know if you posted this for a laugh or not, but the sarcasm only underscores how tragically bad the situation is and the unwillingness of people most affected to address it.

People are dying at a rate of thousands per month, mostly in rural and suburban areas, where addiction continues to be seen as a law enforcement issue rather than a public health crisis. These are also the places where too few decision markers decide to increase funding for ongoing treatment, which is the only thing that will decrease opioid abuse, addiction and overdose deaths.

Earlier this year, Obama requested $1.1 billion for FY2017 from the only body that controls the federal purse strings. This is a pittance compared to what Congress approves for wasteful DoD projects and a host of other things that have no bearing in the lives of Americans. https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2016/02/02/president-obama-proposes-11-billion-new-funding-address-prescription

Congress hemmed and hawed while people kept dying and came back with a fraction of the funds requested - less than $200 million spread out over the next five years, during which time the problem will certainly get worse, costing taxpayers billions more. Democrats decided not to fight for more because we're way past the point of crisis and need action right now.

So really, #ThanksDeadbeatRepublicanLawmakers

And that's nothing compared to way governors and state legislatures - again, in rural states with Republican leadership - are failing. But hey, let's continue those tax breaks for corporations promising minimum wage jobs. Jobs, jobs, jobs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

anonymous wrote:#thanksobama

I don't know if you posted this for a laugh or not, but the sarcasm only underscores how tragically bad the situation is and the unwillingness of people most affected to address it.

People are dying at a rate of thousands per month, mostly in rural and suburban areas, where addiction continues to be seen as a law enforcement issue rather than a public health crisis. These are also the places where too few decision markers decide to increase funding for ongoing treatment, which is the only thing that will decrease opioid abuse, addiction and overdose deaths.

Earlier this year, Obama requested $1.1 billion for FY2017 from the only body that controls the federal purse strings. This is a pittance compared to what Congress approves for wasteful DoD projects and a host of other things that have no bearing in the lives of Americans. https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2016/02/02/president-obama-proposes-11-billion-new-funding-address-prescription

Congress hemmed and hawed while people kept dying and came back with a fraction of the funds requested - less than $200 million spread out over the next five years, during which time the problem will certainly get worse, costing taxpayers billions more. Democrats decided not to fight for more because we're way past the point of crisis and need action right now.

So really, #ThanksDeadbeatRepublicanLawmakers

And that's nothing compared to way governors and state legislatures - again, in rural states with Republican leadership - are failing. But hey, let's continue those tax breaks for corporations promising minimum wage jobs. Jobs, jobs, jobs.

Kasich is one of the few Republican governors who expanded Medicaid, and he did so in part to get all those people access to drug treatment. Because he is a decent man, no matter what you may think of some of his other politics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:been happening for along time, things most parents don't think about when they turn a blind eye to casual drinking a pot smoking and then kids try to reach that original high and can never reach it so they turn to other things.

sure, argue alcohol and pot are harmless or your kid can handle it as long as they get good grades etc. Many other parents thought the same, fortunately I got help and i was just like your kids from the W schools and private schools.

Signed a recovering addict

Thus the heroin epidemics in Colorado and Washington and Oregon, right? All that legalized pot in OH, PA and WVA and MD must be pushing users for more more more.

Yes, WA has a huge heroin epidemic. I live in the eastern suburbs of Seattle - home to Microsoft, Google, Amazon techies and high HHI families. Three students in a 1400 student high school died in 2016. Heroin and meth are also issues for the lower class rural communities.

http://www.kirklandreporter.com/news/384106411.html

But the good news is that the tax payers in Seattle will soon fund safe shoot up locations.

As they should. And I'm a conservative. Drugs are not going away. Americans are very broken and many have serious mental health problems which lead to drug use. Pot doesn't lead to addiction, personal problems and mental health problems lead to drug addiction . it costs much much more to treat the addict for hep C, aids, and blood poisioning from dirty needles. Taxpayers are ALREADY funding drug addict fall out. Plus having these addicts passed out in drug dens is no good for the surrounding communities.

Np. My bf is a white liberal from seattle and seems so liberal minded. So many open relationships and poly relationships in seattle, a sanctuary city, lot of homeless that need help, liberal ideologies, erotic animal farms just seems crazy. I think they are just enabling heroin addicts and i read that there has been violent outbursts at these clinics.

NP here who actually lives in Seattle. PP who posted the Kirkland link was not wrong, but the responding PP -- what planet are you living in?? Like all cities, Seattle has homeless that need help. Yes, it is a liberal city where LOVE is the mantra (not the gender). But what are you talking about with "erotic animal farms"??! I mean, this is a liberal city, but it isn't THAT liberal. If you want to read about a city that has had a huge heroin problem for a long time, read up on Portland.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why and what is this heroin epidemic? Is it only getting so much attention because it's afflicting middle class white people? How do so many people just start using heroin? Growing up in the 80's/90's, heroin was considered to be like crack and really hard core. I couldn't imagine middle class kids (of any race) doing it.

You're kidding right? You are really naive.

Snot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:been happening for along time, things most parents don't think about when they turn a blind eye to casual drinking a pot smoking and then kids try to reach that original high and can never reach it so they turn to other things.

sure, argue alcohol and pot are harmless or your kid can handle it as long as they get good grades etc. Many other parents thought the same, fortunately I got help and i was just like your kids from the W schools and private schools.

Signed a recovering addict

I can confirm. We had a heroin overdose at a W school 2 weeks ago.