What you can do in the battle vs. heroin
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in Pennsylvania the death toll from heroin related overdoses has risen by 30 percent since 2013. A series of unfortunate events has led to the Philadelphia area in particular becoming an epicenter for heroin distribution on the East Coast. As a result, the number of both heroin users and heroin deaths in our state has risen dramatically, creating a public health crisis of epic proportions.
Heroin does not discriminate. It appeals to suburban youth who attend Blue Ribbon high schools and adults who live in working class communities. Users come from intact families and broken ones; economically stable families and those who live in poverty. The scourge affects whites, blacks, Latinos and Asians, but mostly whites.
People become heroin users for a variety of reasons. Many become addicted first to pain medications prescribed for common procedures such as having your wisdom teeth removed or to help alleviate back pain. Over short periods of time, these pain meds trick your brain into thinking you need more, that you can handle increased doses, and that you can stop whenever you want. Often times, this leads to seeking out additional pain meds readily available in many of our households. Soon, as that source dries up, and one’s dependency has reached an unmanageable level, people seek to purchase pain meds illegally from readily available and relatively inexpensive sources. Eventually, it’s easier and more cost efficient to buy a $10 bag of heroin than it is to pay $5 per pill.
Many become addicted because they have experienced significant trauma in their lives or suffer from mental health issues. Some become addicted because as victims of human trafficking, children and adults alike, they are “fed” heroin to make them compliant and then become addicted. Without access to mental health and other community supports, some turn to heroin as a quick, easy way to numb the pain from physical, emotional or sexual abuse.
Several months ago, Gov. Wolf signed a series of bills to help battle this crisis. The legislation poses restrictions on doctors’ ability to prescribe opioids to minors and to better educate medical students about the risks associated with prescribing pain medication. It also provides for multiple safe and accessible (police stations, nursing homes, pharmacies) drop off locations for unwanted, extra, or expired prescription drugs to get them out of the house when they are no longer needed. Some counties in the state, Delaware County among them, have also taken a proactive stance to help battle the opioid epidemic, by forming heroin task forces. Using a preventionoriented model, the Delaware County Heroin Task Force has reached 120,000 school aged children in the county through Narcotics Overdose and Prevention programming. It has also dedicated funding to equipping every police car in the county with life saving Narcan, which reverses overdoses when administered quickly.
Increased public awareness along with additional funding is critical if we hope to combat this crisis and significantly reduce the number of overdose deaths. In late January, amidst a Pa. state budget crisis, Gov. Tom Wolf bravely proposed a $10 million increase to the state’s 2017-18 budget in order to provide all first responders throughout the state with life-saving Narcan. Since November, 2014 alone, Narcan has reversed more than 2,300 heroin overdoses. Providing first responders with Narcan makes a lot of sense. And, providing addicts or those in recovery from with Narcan would probably save even more lives.
There are steps all of us can take to help battle this public health crisis. Monitor children’s and other family members’ usage of prescription pain medication and only use it only as indicated. Talk with your children about responsible and conservative use of pain medication. Remove unwanted and old prescription meds from your home and drop them off in the boxes provided at your local police station. Be a strong voice for funding to help those in recovery so that they have the resources to combat their addiction. Advocate for mental health services for those suffering from trauma and other mental health issues. And, if you live or work in areas or near situations where you may find yourself in a position to save a life, consider obtaining a prescription for Narcan and carry it with you.
“Many become addicted because they have experienced significant trauma in their lives or suffer from mental health issues. Some become addicted because as victims of human trafficking, children and adults alike, they are “fed” heroin to make them compliant and then become addicted. Without access to mental health and other community supports, some turn to heroin as a quick, easy way to numb the pain from physical, emotional or sexual abuse.