The Heroin Epidemic Now

Heroin use in the last decade has exploded exponentially, with the DEA citing that the number of heroin overdoses in 2010 jumped from 3036 to 10,574 in 2014. Unlike the previous heroin epidemic of the 1970's, the number of U.S. military personnel that have served in the recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan aren't known to have experimented with heroin and opiates while deployed in active combat zones. What makes the current heroin epidemic unique is that it has been created essentially internally, with the over prescription of pain killers by doctors in recent years. Some of the drugs of choice have been opioids such as hydrocodone, fentanyl, oxycontin, and demerol have been prescribed by doctors to patients for a myriad of reasons. [1]      

Unlike the previous heroin epidemic in the 1970's the center of addiction isn't limited to a large urban center, but has touched every city and small town throughout the United States. A prime example of the breadth of heroin's reach is its huge prevalence in Huntington West Virginia, the new capital of heroin overdoses. Huntington is unique in that it's rate of overdoses averages 3 or more a day and hasn't let up. [2] What is unique about heroin as a drug is that the increase in the number of overdoses leads to increases in sales of heroin. With increased overdoses often there is an increase in the purity in the heroin that is being used which boosts sales. If there is a death related to an overdose there is often a flood of sales that follows because less heroin is needed to maintain dependency. The center for disease control has studied heroin use from 2002-2013 in a study to determine the demographic and percentage increase in heroin use.

Center for Disease Control Statistic on Heroin use and Deaths

What was concluded was that the highest rates of use increased amongst those between the ages of 18 and 25 making below $20,000 a year. [4] According to Vice News and the Center for Disease control heroin use has increased 63% over the last decade. [3] In the years between 2010 and 2013 heroin use was reported to have almost tripled between these 3 years. [1] Despite the fact that there is an assumption that the epidemic will run its course there is little that seems to have been addressed when looking at the number of prescriptions of painkillers which are used at an increasing rate each year. Another thing that makes the increase in heroin use today different from the 1970's is the internet which besides use for legal purposes has changed the shape of how people interact and do business has changed the means of illegal exchange as well. Alongside the usual street level dealing which is universal in practice and sales new methods for drug marketing and sales have emerged in the last decade with websites like Silk Road making it as easy as shopping on Amazon for heroin, cocaine, guns, or even hit-men. 

  

   

[1] Owen, Tess. "Heroin Kills White People More Than Anyone Else - And Nobody Is Sure Why | VICE News." VICE News RSS. January 27, 2016. Accessed June 17, 2016.

[2] Ackerman, McCarton. "VICE Premieres 'Heroin Crisis' Documentary | The Fix." The Fix. June 3, 2016. Accessed June 20, 2016.

[3] Curry, Colleen. "Why America's Ongoing Heroin Epidemic May Soon Run Its Course | VICE News." VICE News RSS. July 8, 2015. Accessed June 8, 2016.

[4] "Vital Signs: Demographic and Substance Use Trends Among Heroin Users — United States, 2002–2013." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2015. Accessed July 1, 2016.