English: Pre-war Bayer heroin bottle, originally containing 5 grams of Heroin substance. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
The number of people who had used heroin in the previous year increased between 2007 and 2012, from 373,000 to 669,000. Meanwhile, federal data from 2011 finds that nearly 80 percent of people who had used heroin in the past year had also previously abused prescription painkillers classified as opioids.
I have been an addiction professional and social worker since 1994. I started blogging in 2005 as the Clinical Director at Dawn Farm. I no longer work at Dawn Farm and am now the Director of Behavioral Medicine at a community hospital, and a lecturer at Eastern Michigan University’s School of Social Work.
Views expressed here are my own.
Keep in mind that the field, the contexts in which the field operates, and my views have changed over time.
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2 thoughts on “With Rise Of Painkiller Abuse, A Closer Look At Heroin”
Well, this article was definitely an interesting read. On one hand you have the FDA trying to cut down on unnecessary painkiller prescribing, and on the other hand you have dealers who can get you what you want without a prescription. How does one win in this situation?
Well, this article was definitely an interesting read. On one hand you have the FDA trying to cut down on unnecessary painkiller prescribing, and on the other hand you have dealers who can get you what you want without a prescription. How does one win in this situation?