Heroin Addiction Papers

Heroin Epidemic

Two adults unconscious; four children screaming because their parents will not wake up. Police called Child Protective Services (CPS) to take them out of their home, and away from the drugs. The two adults are transported to the hospital due to a heroin overdose. They are forced to sign off custody of the children and put them into foster care(my story). Often, many heroin users say they want to quit, but the withdrawals are so severe they cannot stand the pain so they continue to use. Addiction is the leading cause of accidental death in the U.S; since heroin is one of the cheapest street drugs it is easier to get ahold of and harder to get off. As of 2016, more than 1.5 million people are heroin addicts (Jacob Sullum 1).
Within the past twenty years, a disturbing trend has come to the attention of law enforcement officers, substance abuse counselors, and healthcare providers. More people are using heroin than ever before. Eighty percent of heroin users were once prescribed “pain killers” such as; Oxycodone, Acetaminophen, Pentazocine, and Propoxyphene for one reason or another. If people are taken off them all at once and not slowly it can cause withdrawal to the drug and cause the person to go and find a new way of having that high sensation. This could cause a doctor to overprescribe “pain killers” to stop people going onto the street to get the drug, or the addict will makeup excuses to get more “pain killers” before they find new drugs to try.
Next, being abused as a child or a teenager often leads to drug abuse as an adult. “As many as two-thirds of all people in treatment for drug abuse report that they were physically, sexually, or emotionally abused during childhood, research shows. However, the role of child abuse - physical trauma, rape and sexual abuse, neglect, emotional abuse, and witnessing or being threatened with violence or other abuse - in the pathway to drug abuse needs closer examination”. These types of abuse often leads to drug use, depression, anxiety, OCD and, PTSD(Swan
It causes people to look up to “stars” and want to be like them and live their lifestyle. Most “famous star” get caught up in trouble; whether it be drugs or small things, it still gets broadcasted all over the world. This causes regular people to see it and think that it is okay do to because they did not get in trouble. Seeing peers do something that is not right and not get penalized for it causes people to think that they will not get in trouble. So, the regular people try it and either get busted or hooked. The ones who get busted really get saved. “I was a high-profile model and intravenous heroin addict. I copped on the street. Heroin doesn't discriminate. It is unbearably wonderful for suppressing pain and generating a false sense of well-being. I loved heroin. Addicts who say "I hate heroin" are lying to themselves. We wouldn't stick needles in our arms daily if we didn't love the way it made us feel. But when it wears off, you're in a hole so big it is impossible to climb out. No one sets out to be a heroin addict. It's not a lifestyle choice” (Janice).
Heroin addiction in the U.S is at the all time high. If this problem is not addressed sooner or later there will be a point where it will not be able to be manageable. When it comes to addiction there is a point when it becomes too late, but there is always help available as long as that person wants it. Addiction