Addiction is all around us. These days it seems as though every person in your life is somehow affected, or at least knows someone that is affected, by the devastation of substance abuse. It doesn’t discriminate, and it knows no boundaries. It creeps in slowly, tears families apart, destroys lives and ends overwhelmingly in death. The CDC states that “Heroin use more than doubled among young adults ages 18-25 in the past decade”. In turn, heroin-related deaths have also increased and inpatient heroin rehab in Portland, Maine is needed more than ever.
Opioid Epidemic Map
Many overdoses happen due to relapse after a period of sobriety that lowers tolerance levels. It can also take place if it’s your very first time. The mix of specific drugs can trigger a toxic reaction or the strength of the opiate in general. Maybe the individual has cardiac issues they may not even be aware of. Whatever the case, it’s real and it’s frightening. These overdoses and death are not limited to heroin use. Other drugs, such a prescription medication can be just as lethal.
Opioid Epidemic Statistics
The upward trend in opiate addiction in the New England area is perpetuated by several contributing factors. The most prevalent being its deliverance from New York along with the vast highway systems. New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Maine are connected and intertwined with 3 highways. Much distribution takes place in states like Massachusetts due to lower penalties for trafficking compared to more northern states. Seaports are also used in the trafficking of illegal substances. If the drugs come into New York, they are distributed to rural areas of Massachusetts, and dealers from Vermont, Maine, and New Hampshire make the drive to pick up what they want to distribute in their home states.
Although prescription opiate use has fallen while heroin use on the rise, national studies show that its use is a direct gateway to heroin. According to the American Society for Addiction Medicine, “four out of five new heroin users were first addicted to prescription opioids”. The fact of the matter is heroin is cheaper and easier to obtain than prescription painkillers.
In 2017, West Virginia remained at the top of the list of opioid-involved overdose deaths, with 49.6 per every 100,000 persons. Out of the states that had data collected, Hawaii sits at the bottom with 3.4, possibly because it’s a hard state to supply to. Regardless, the data shows that the opioid epidemic has impacted virtually every state, with seven of the states having greater than 27.8 deaths per every 100,000 persons.
Free Yourself from the Opioid Heroin Epidemic
No matter with which opiate it starts, or how it continues, if are addicted to, or abuse opiates you are at risk. It’s imperative that you seek help, by reaching out and getting opioid addiction treatment in Portland, Maine. Ultimately this can mean saving a life.
If you or a loved one is battling addiction and needs help, it’s only a phone call away.
Please reach out with any questions: (855) 607-8758 A great resource for navigating the hows and whys of drug addiction treatment can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/jrnvrs8
Chloe Arreola, Liberty Bay Staff
