Generation ‘H’: The Gateway Drugs — Is Heroin the Real Problem?

[neversickanymore]

Generation ‘H’: The Gateway Drugs — Is Heroin the Real Problem?
Rebecca Granet
March 3, 2016

NEW YORK — According to the CDC, 2014 saw the highest number of drug overdose deaths than any other recorded year, and opioids were involved in 61 percent of those fatalities. The CDC report says, “past misuse of prescription opioids is the strongest risk factor for heroin initiation and use.”

In fact, addiction specialists, law enforcement officials, and psychologists who spoke to 1010WINS.com agree that prescription opioids are today’s main gateway drugs to heroin. That is a dramatic change. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, more than 80 percent of “people entering treatment for heroin addiction” started directly with heroin use in the 1960s. In a near complete reversal, more than 75 percent of heroin addiction in the 2000s began with a prescription opioid. The table below illustrates the marked difference over the decades:

cont with graphics http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2016/03/03/heroin-gateway-drugs/

 

[cj]

I swear to god reporters just plagiarize each others work. I have read this exact same article in a least 50 different places. This one just added some cool looking graphics. The backlash against prescription opiates is in full gear. Many innocent people are going to suffer in pain because of it.

 

[Burnt Offerings]

Yeah. Better people with chronic pain suffer than some junkies get high. 8)

 

[LucidSDreamr]

The gateway drug argument. weed leads to crack. pills lead to heroin.

pretty soon heroin will be much easier for everyone to get than prescriptions....so then ppl will start with heroin

the idea that people that use drugs recreationally would never touch heroin unless touching a pill first is insane

 

[neversickanymore]

^ prescription opioids are a clear induction to heroin. Heroin is already easier and cheaper to get then prescription opiates. ??

Whats your take on a gateway drug?

 

[LucidSDreamr]

^ prescription opioids are a clear induction to heroin. Heroin is already easier and cheaper to get then prescription opiates. ??

Whats your take on a gateway drug?

Anyone that would take a pill to get high....presented with heroin instead would also try it. Are you saying that if someone had never tried opiates before and wanted to try them and could only access heroin they would pass up on it unless they could get pills?

When the pills become some regulated that disabled people can't even get them anymore, EVERYONE will be getting heroin the demand will be huge. people will develop greater habits and be able to get unlimited amounts of heroin. The appitite will skyrocket in the US.

My prediction is that heroin will be so abundant in another 5 years that people will be trying it before weed in some circles. And I will be laughing in the governments face...they will be begging people to switch from heroin to oxycodone pills and be giving them out for free like methadone.

 

[manboychef]

Anyone that would take a pill to get high....presented with heroin instead would also try it. Are you saying that if someone had never tried opiates before and wanted to try them and could only access heroin they would pass up on it unless they could get pills?

When the pills become some regulated that disabled people can't even get them anymore, EVERYONE will be getting heroin the demand will be huge. people will develop greater habits and be able to get unlimited amounts of heroin. The appitite will skyrocket in the US.

My prediction is that heroin will be so abundant in another 5 years that people will be trying it before weed in some circles. And I will be laughing in the governments face...they will be begging people to switch from heroin to oxycodone pills and be giving them out for free like methadone.

You have a very skewed view of what will happen. I am a recovered opiate addict and morphine was the gateway to heroin for me. Personally, I would prefer morphine to heroin as I knew my dosage and I knew what it would do.

I don't think they are going to be passing out oxys to keep people from using heroin. I have feeling they will be passing out prison sentences way before they ever think to medicate people.

CJ: You were right in saying that chronic pain patients will suffer because some people enjoy the high from pills. It all goes back to the puritan ethic. If someone enjoys something it goes against their ideals and the fact that medication can be diverted (god help us that someone enjoy their life) means that noone should have it. Wouldn't you rather have people happy, rather than leave those that need help in pain? Not our current government.