Over the past 10 days I have heard about 2 overdose deaths to this drug, both are people that are connected to friends of mine, in fact one was a friend's son.

 

The weekend of October 25th there were reportedly 10 overdoses at St. Elizabeth in Ft. Thomas and 2 resulted in deaths. These victims were 34 and 26 yrs old.

 

There is a tremendous shortage of beds in recovery centers across this state. When will we recognize this as a health epidemic and start throwing more money at this problem?

It's getting to the point now that I almost wish they would loosen the laws back up for pain killer distribution. There are a lot more deaths with heroin use than there were with pain pill use.

 

Of course, that's not REALLY the solution.

I imagine that it's a complex issue with where this drug is grown and how it gets into the country and spreads around. The media doesn't seem to touch that topic, while all that is addressed is how it's taking over communities within the U.S.

 

It would seem logical that if you could stop it from getting in, then you could stop people from using.

 

Certainly communities must address the issue on their end to do what they can to stop it, but what's the deal with national media never bringing light to its origins and the pathway to its end user. Where's the money trail, and what is being done to stop the bigger problem?

 

Sure you can place buckets to catch the leaks in the roof, but until you fix the roof, all you're going to have is leaks and constant buckets to catch the leaks with never an end to the true origin of the problem.

 

There is a tremendous shortage of beds in recovery centers across this state. When will we recognize this as a health epidemic and start throwing more money at this problem?

 

Most people already realize it's an epidemic. Unfortunately, most people naively think it's everyone else's problem.

 

There are some things in the works to raise significant funds (i.e. 3 million dollars) to create more beds...but, things like that take lots of time & money.

Here are a couple threads I started on the topic this past year:

 

http://bluegrasspreps.com/premium-members-only/heroin-up-close-278848.html

 

 

http://bluegrasspreps.com/kentucky-national-politics/heroin-time-act-268742.html

I know the family of one of the young men who recently died and I am just heartbroken over their loss. I also know the family of the young man whose death resulted in the NKY Hates Heroin movement. You never think things like this are going to happen to someone you know and love. Talk to your children until you are blue in the face and then talk some more because heroin and other drugs like this do not discriminate. It can happen to you too.

It is such a cheap drug and from what I understand it is an instant addiction. The high is so great and its so cheap it makes the user want it more and more.

 

I have talked to police officers who say every person that they arrest or know who has overdosed has gone back to the drug even after trying rehab. It is like it is a life sentence in a sense.

 

It is very sad and I know it is not a problem that discriminates.

Edited November 5, 201411 yr by Qryche11
Capitalization

It is such a cheap drug and from what I understand it is an instant addiction. The high is so great and its so cheap it makes the user want it more and more.

 

I have talked to police officers who say every person that they arrest or know who has overdosed has gone back to the drug even after trying rehab. It is like it is a life sentence in a sense.

It is very sad and I know it is not a problem that discriminates.

 

 

I often care for drug addicts. Heroin is the most devastating thing to ever hit the drug scene. I often ask the what it is about the drug that makes them keep going back. Some say that withdrawal is so bad that they would do anything to avoid it. Others say the first time you get high on it, it is so great that you are forever chasing that feeling, but never can quite get there.

 

I can't imagine there is anyone in this area who doesn't know someone with the problem.

 

I know people with money who have sent their kids to really good programs that didn't work for them.

 

It is frightening. Wish I had an answer.

It is such a cheap drug and from what I understand it is an instant addiction. The high is so great and its so cheap it makes the user want it more and more.

 

I have talked to police officers who say every person that they arrest or know who has overdosed has gone back to the drug even after trying rehab. It is like it is a life sentence in a sense.

 

It is very sad and I know it is not a problem that discriminates.

 

I spoke with an EMS/EMT who said that his unit typically responds to 7-10 overdose calls PER WEEK.

 

Heroin became much more popular when the KY Legislature made it more difficult to obtain prescription medication. Prescription drugs were (and still are) a big problem throughout the state. The legislature attempted to fix the prescription drug issue, but failed to recognize one of the unintended consequences of doing so: heroin. Heroin is an opiate, similar to oxycontin and other prescription drugs.

 

When the legislature cracked down on prescription drug abuse, addicts turned to the streets to obtain heroin, which offers a similar high and is much cheaper. The only issue is that heroin is deadly.

 

Black tar heroin is even more problematic. My understanding is that it is not "pure" enough and will literally kill you upon entering your system. I have heard horror stories where users are found, unconscious or dead, with the needle still in their arm. It happens THAT quickly.

 

Fortunately, those in charge have recognized that heroin is a problem. Hopefully there are major changes coming soon to combat the problem. One of those changes has already happened. Now, the drug dealers are getting charged with murder.

 

It's not an easy fix and the solution isn't simple. It is going to take a lot of time, effort, education and money to combat.

Kid who was on my son's knothole team has an obit in the paper today . 34 heroin overdose death .

I'm not sure if it's just an Ohio law or what....but my younger brother was griping about heroin OD's in the emergency room a couple of months ago. He's a respiratory therapist, works 3rd shift, and often gets sent to the ER for the night in order to help with intibating and CPR in the emergency room. He said on weekends they always see at least 1 or 2 a night, and that they see another OD patient come into the ER maybe 2 out of 3 of the remaining nights of the week. The problem is, if the patient doesn't literally say, "I took heroin" or "I'm having a herion overdose", the doctor cannot order drug testing or anything along those lines and they can only treat the patient as if they were having an overdose. As a result, my brother said 9 out of 10 non-fatal heroin OD patients walk out the door of the ER hours later, and no report can be made.

 

I often care for drug addicts. Heroin is the most devastating thing to ever hit the drug scene. I often ask the what it is about the drug that makes them keep going back. Some say that withdrawal is so bad that they would do anything to avoid it. Others say the first time you get high on it, it is so great that you are forever chasing that feeling, but never can quite get there.

 

I can't imagine there is anyone in this area who doesn't know someone with the problem.

 

I know people with money who have sent their kids to really good programs that didn't work for them.

 

It is frightening. Wish I had an answer.

 

They have to have a reason to quit.. Just going to rehab does nothing.

They have to have a reason to quit.. Just going to rehab does nothing.

 

Sad to think that they have nothing in their life that they value more than the drug.

Cheap is the problem. The new Marijuana but much more lethal.

The reason there so fast is because they make the food in minutes. Shouldn't need to drive like a maniac.