Community Chat

[terrier3]

On 3/16/2014 garmer said:

On 3/16/2014 terrier3 said:

On 3/16/2014 garmer said:

It's been a problem in small town, USA for over a decade. It's been reported that the heroin that is currently out there is especially dangerous and long time addicts are dying as they don't know how lethal this is. The dose they usually use is far too strong. It's been cut with another drug, fentanyl, I think.

That's what has been reported on the local news stations in this area.

I work helping advertise drug abuse programs in different parts of the state. Meth and alcohol are bigger problems in rural areas...prescription meds and heroin in suburbs and cities.

I live in a different area than you do so, that may account for the difference. Heroin is the big killer around these parts and has been for many years. I've seen so many children buried...so many that went to school with mine. Kids that I knew, families that I know. It's heart breaking.

There is really no meth to speak of around here. Occasionally it may turn up but no where near the amt. of heroin that is on the streets. It's gotten so cheap over the last ten years, that makes it even worse. Little kids can "afford" it.

The state did pretty extensive surveys of junior high and HS kids to come up with targets for each area.

[garmer]

Oh I totally believe you. I don't live in the same state that you do, though.

[LilacTree]

On 3/16/2014 Lotus~ said:

Hi Ford....thanks for sharing.

Heroin addiction is a huge problem on Long Island too. Our main highway here on the Island is called the Long Island Expressway.....now known as The Heroin Highway.

A friend of mine posted this disturbing article on FB the other day.

From Huff Post: (copy and paste if you are not comfortable opening links)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/11/heroin-addiction-teens-trend-oprah_n_4937034.html?ncid=fcb...

This is so scary too. Kids are so naïve, they think their "friends" would not do this to them. It's horrifying really to deliberately induce someone to take this drug unknowingly. It was much harder to do that when they used needles, but as this article says, they snort it now.

My daughter also told me that Xanax is used by snorting these days also, and that can be immediately fatal when it hits the brain stem. Xanax is a "come-down" drug, but like everything, they don't want to wait 20 minutes, so they snort it instead and some die instantly.

[garmer]

Hard core addicts will snort anything they can crush and shoot up anything that they can dissolve in water. It's a wonder that more don't die from massive infections from the dirt they put into their veins.

[LilacTree]

On 3/16/2014 garmer said:

Hard core addicts will snort anything they can crush and shoot up anything that they can dissolve in water. It's a wonder that more don't die from massive infections from the dirt they put into their veins.

Unbelievable, isn't it? I remember hearing about heroin even when I was a young teenager, but it was so far removed from our community . . . it was in the deepest, darkest corners of the inner city in New York and the boroughs. Oddly enough, even though they used needles in those days, it was a less toxic form of heroin.

Do you remember the movie, "The Man with the Golden Arm?" I think Frank Sinatra played the lead and Kim Novak was in it. That was the closest we ever got to it. And I don't think the movie ever mentioned the word "heroin." It was not said what drug he was injecting into his arm.

My daughter said heroin was not around in the 80s either when they were going to high school. Mostly it was alcohol, pot, and cocaine.

[ShowMe]

It's prevalent all over our country. There is hardly a day that goes by that it isn't mentioned on our local news. The sad thing about it is that those using have no idea what is in the heroin they are using. Just hope and pray it doesn't go the route of what marijuana has gone.

[garmer]

Oh Ford, it's terrible. The heroin deaths, per capita, are at a staggering rate in just this small town. Pop.-c.4000. The surrounding towns are no better. It wasn't like this when I was young. I am glad that I'm not raising children now, with this epidemic raging.

It crosses all socio-economic boundaries. No one is exempt. There seems to be no way to stop it. I wish we could figure out something that would work. I've taken an active role in trying to prevent drug use among our local kids but, it's like banging your head on a wall.

[garmer]

On 3/16/2014 ShowMe said:

It's prevalent all over our country. There is hardly a day that goes by that it isn't mentioned on our local news. The sad thing about it is that those using have no idea what is in the heroin they are using. Just hope and pray it doesn't go the route of what marijuana has gone.

Do you mean legalization? If so, have no fear...that will never happen. Never ever.

[terrier3]

On 3/16/2014 ShowMe said:

It's prevalent all over our country. There is hardly a day that goes by that it isn't mentioned on our local news. The sad thing about it is that those using have no idea what is in the heroin they are using. Just hope and pray it doesn't go the route of what marijuana has gone.

Nobody ever died from an overdose of weed.

[LilacTree]

On 3/16/2014 ShowMe said:

It's prevalent all over our country. There is hardly a day that goes by that it isn't mentioned on our local news. The sad thing about it is that those using have no idea what is in the heroin they are using. Just hope and pray it doesn't go the route of what marijuana has gone.

Huge difference between the two, not that I'm an advocate of legalizing marijuana, which fries the brain . . . just more slowly. With heroin, depending upon the strength of the individual's overall health and the dosage, one can die the very first time they use it. I can't imagine ever legalizing that.