New CDC Study Shows Women and Middle-Class Heroin Abuse Skyrocketing
Median-household communities ravaged by addiction
Midvale, UT: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently released a study that shows new demographics of individuals abusing and becoming addicted to heroin in the United States. Through comparing results of a previous study conducted between 2002 and 2004, the CDC revealed that more women and individuals in this country's middle class are turning to heroin now that prescription pain medications are more difficult to acquire. Via this most recent study, which examined data collected between 2011 and 2014, heroin use is up 60 percent among women and nearly 63 percent among middle-class people.
With the release of this study, it is becoming more apparent that opioid addiction does not discriminate. Additionally, results from this research show that more individuals are turning to heroin by way of diminished availability of painkillers. The CDC reported that the number of heroin users increased by 150 percent since 2007, and that 75 percent of new heroin users abused prescription pain medications before switching to heroin. In lieu of recent legislation limiting the prescribing of pain medications, it is believed that this influx of heroin abuse is because heroin is significantly cheaper than painkillers such as OxyContin, Opana, or Vicodin.
As part of the domino effect that comes with an increase in heroin abuse is the unfortunate rise in the number of heroin-related deaths. In some parts of the United States, heroin overdoses outnumber traffic accidents and homicides, with such fatalities quadrupling since the year 2000. Part of what is contributing to this statistic is the demand for more heroin, of which is now being produced with extremely dangerous and potent substances, such as fentanyl, that can cause users to experience an overdose after just one use.
"Given the findings of the CDC's recent report, it is more important now more than ever that we take action against the current heroin epidemic. Opioid addiction is one of the most difficult forms of chemical dependency to overcome, and with more people from various walks of life abusing this drug, preventive and proactive measures need to be emergently taken. As a leading provider of addiction treatment, we will do all that we can to help those caught in the clutches of opioid addiction so that future reports will not produce such grim results and lives can be saved" Jennifer Miller, Director of Clinical Services at Highland Ridge Hospital.
About Highland Ridge Hospital
Highland Ridge Hospital specializes in the compassionate and supportive treatment of individuals struggling with substance abuse and mental health issues. Our group of caring medical professionals has helped our clients achieve something very special - sobriety. For more information, visit www.Highlandridgehospital.com
