There is a heroin drug crisis present in the United States as a whole. The same can be said for Florida. Men and women, and many teens, are facing one of the most addictive drugs on their own, unable to stop using but unsure what to do next. For those who are using heroin, it can seem like every day is a challenge. Yet, there are more ways that this drug is affecting the state itself. Even those who are not using it may find themselves unsure of how to manage these impacts.
What Is the Heroin Crisis That’s Happening?
Heroin is a type of opioid. This drug works by changing the way the neurotransmitters in the brain communicate. It works to depress the pain signals from the body to the brain, reducing any pain felt. However, it also impacts the central nervous system by stimulating the pleasure and reward center. Because it creates this type of euphoria, people tend to seek out the drug over and over again, often compulsively.
This causes dependence. It is a condition in which people cannot stop using the drug on their own. Their brain will not allow it to happen. This is where the heroin crisis begins.
Consider the Impact of This Addiction
There is no more worrisome effect than the number of people overdosing and dying due to heroin use. In the U.S., in total, there were 67,367 drug overdose deaths in 2018. In Florida, there were 4,698 overdose deaths. Of those, opioids accounted for 68 percent, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. These deaths are tragic and often avoidable when there is proper heroin treatment in place. Yet, that does not happen as often as it can and should.
What does this heroin drug crisis Florida is experiencing lead to beyond those deaths? Many potential complications arise:
- Those engaging in heroin use are also more reckless when it comes to unprotected sex. The same agency as above notes a growing number of Hepatitis C cases alongside heroin drug use.
- There are increasing numbers of HIV present due to shared needles, according to the same source.
- There is an increased risk associated with congenital disabilities called neonatal abstinence syndrome. That puts a burden on the healthcare system to treat these individuals and those families struggling to help these children survive and thrive.
The effects of heroin addiction Florida families have to manage is intense as well. This may include high medical bills to deal with overdoses and treatment’s physical and medical losses. There are implications to the economy as a whole with the loss of individuals able to work and contribute.
What Can Be Done to Help Overcome the Challenges of Heroin?
There is no magical cure for heroin addiction. However, there are treatment programs that can support an individual and their ability to stop using and get back to living a healthy, productive life. The key is to get that help as soon as possible before overdoses occur and the complications of dependence start to invade every area of a person’s life. Heroin’s stronghold is one of the biggest challenges to overcome.
Are You Using Heroin? Find Help Today
There’s little doubt that heroin is impacting people, cities, and states in complicated ways. Yet, for the individual who is struggling to stop using, none of this matters. What most matters are finding the treatment they need right now to start to save their life. For many individuals, that means picking up a phone and calling a treatment program. Don’t wait to get help for yourself or a loved one.
