A Heroin Epidemic: Ohio in the Grips of Heroin Addiction

The heroin epidemic Ohio faces only seems to be growing. To understand why there are so many heroin deaths in Ohio, it’s important to understand what heroin is and why it is so dangerous. Heroin is classified as an opioid drug and is usually found in a white or brown powder. It can also be a black sticky substance, which is referred to as black tar heroin. Heroin can be used in several different ways, such as being injected, snorted, or smoked. No matter which way the drug is taken, it is delivered to the brain very quickly. This is what makes heroin very dangerous and puts you at high risk of becoming addicted.

Once it reaches the brain, heroin converts back to its original chemical makeup, which is morphine. The morphine attaches itself to brain cells called opioid receptors, which oversee the perception of pain and reward. The long-term effects of heroin on the brain include developing a tolerance to the drug that requires more heroin to produce the same effect. In the long run, heroin can cause corrosion of the brain’s white matter. This can affect decision-making skills, the capability to regulate behavior, and responses to stressful circumstances. These effects of heroin show how important it is to understand why there is so much heroin in Ohio and how to stop it.

The heroin epidemic Ohio has on its hands may have begun from the misuse of prescription drugs. Survey results show that almost half of young people who use heroin admitted to abusing prescription opioid medications before they started injecting heroin. Some of these people also noted that they began using heroin because it was less expensive and easier to obtain than prescription opioids. Examples of prescription opioid medications are OxyContin and Vicodin. These pain pills are some of the most frequently abused drugs in this country. When these prescription drugs are taken in higher doses or in other ways than prescribed, such as snorting them, they can produce the same effects that heroin provides.

The main problem with heroin Ohio faces is the number of fatal overdoses that are reported each year. The number of heroin deaths in Ohio resulting from overdose each year is one of the highest in the nation. Another problem is that street heroin in Ohio often contains other toxic chemicals or additives that have been known to block blood vessels. Nationwide, overdose deaths related to heroin have quadrupled since 2010, and the number of heroin deaths in Ohio increased 19.8% from 2014 to 2015 alone. The United States had 12,989 deaths in 2015 resulting from heroin overdoses, and the Midwest was the leading region, with 3,959 heroin overdose deaths that year.

But there is hope for people addicted to heroin. Ohio residents can turn to the customized addiction treatment programs at White Sands Treatment Center to get help. White Sands is an accredited private drug and alcohol addiction treatment center located in Fort Myers, Florida. We will help facilitate travel arrangements to our facility no matter where you live, and we accommodate most insurance plans in most states. A dual-diagnosis approach to drug and alcohol addiction treatment is used, ensuring that those who struggle with substance abuse as well as mental health issues can get the help they need. We have highly qualified staff with board-certified doctors, nurses, psychiatrists, and counselors all under one roof. White Sands is a great rehab option because we offer highly individualized programs and patient care customized for each person.

White Sands Treatment Center is designed to make you feel safe and comfortable while in recovery. The facility has a beautiful and serene environment that feels like a community. We offer free clinical assessments, and you can call 24/7 to speak with our professional staff. Don’t let the next heroin death in Ohio be yours: Call us now.