Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Eugene

(62,626 posts)
Thu Jan 30, 2014, 08:07 PM Jan 2014

Heroin abuse at 'epidemic' level in South Florida -drug report

Source: Reuters

Heroin abuse at 'epidemic' level in South Florida -drug report

BY ZACHARY FAGENSON
MIAMI Thu Jan 30, 2014 6:44pm EST

(Reuters) - A high-profile law enforcement crackdown on prescription painkiller abuse in Florida has addicts turning increasingly to heroin, resulting in the highest number of overdose deaths and hospitalizations in recent years, a report on drug abuse said.

Deaths from heroin - now more potent and widely available than ever - rose 89 percent statewide from 62 in 2011 to 117 in 2012, with the problem reaching epidemic proportions in South Florida, according to a report by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), part of the National Institute of Health.

In Miami-Dade County, deaths jumped 120 percent, from 15 in 2011 to 33 in 2012.

"We're talking here about the mother of addictions," said James N. Hall, an epidemiologist at Nova Southeastern University who authored the report with 20 NIDA researchers nationwide who have met biannually since 1976 to track drug use trends.

[font size=1]-snip-[/font]


Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/01/30/us-usa-florida-heroin-idUSBREA0T24D20140130
3 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Heroin abuse at 'epidemic' level in South Florida -drug report (Original Post) Eugene Jan 2014 OP
Not surprising, it's epidemic in parts of NM, too Warpy Jan 2014 #1
And there was the story a few days ago that the Governor of Vermont used the entire enough Jan 2014 #2
So very sad. pablo_marmol Feb 2014 #3

Warpy

(113,130 posts)
1. Not surprising, it's epidemic in parts of NM, too
Thu Jan 30, 2014, 08:15 PM
Jan 2014

Keep shoving people farther into poverty, give them no hope of anything better, ever, and then act surprised when they want to numb out.

enough

(13,449 posts)
2. And there was the story a few days ago that the Governor of Vermont used the entire
Thu Jan 30, 2014, 08:33 PM
Jan 2014

State-of-the-State annual message to discuss the problem of heroin addiction in Vermont.

pablo_marmol

(2,375 posts)
3. So very sad.
Sun Feb 2, 2014, 02:19 AM
Feb 2014

Doctors profit from writing oxy scripts, then profit again from the lucrative drug testing that accompanies the predictable addiction that follows. Then users turn to heroin to satisfy their addiction.

Latest Discussions»Issue Forums»Drug Policy»Heroin abuse at 'epidemic...