What Is Heroin? What Can Be Done?

For some, heroin is an issue unknown in detail and significance in one’s day-to-day life. Knowing the facts, and understanding can lead to viable solutions. Here is information about heroin, and some suggestions for helping those in need, and stopping its progressive use.

Are there grassroots approaches that can be implemented to help bridge the gap between an uncontrolled aspect of today’s society, heroin use, and bringing it under control?

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/heroin, there are serious things to consider about heroin as society plows into this illness and addiction to come up with obligatory, responsible approaches to the drug’s demise.

Here are just some of the facts surrounding heroin, as cited by the NIDA:

• Heroin is an opioid drug made from morphine, a natural substance taken from the seed pod of the Asian opium poppy plant.
• Heroin can be a white or brown powder, or a black sticky substance is known as black tar heroin.
• People inject, snort, or smoke heroin. Some people mix heroin with crack cocaine, called a speedball.
• Heroin enters the brain rapidly and changes back into morphine. It binds to opioid receptors on cells located in many areas of the brain, especially those involved in feelings of pain and pleasure.
• People who use heroin report feeling euphoria accompanied by effects that include dry mouth, heavy feelings in the hands and feet, and clouded mental functioning.
• Long-term effects may include collapsed veins, infection of the heart lining and valves, abscesses, and lung complications.
• Research suggests that misuse of prescription opioid pain medicine is a risk factor for starting heroin use.
• A person can overdose on heroin. Naloxone is a medicine that can treat a heroin overdose when given right away.
• Heroin can lead to addiction, a form of substance use disorder. Withdrawal symptoms include muscle and bone pain, sleep problems, diarrhoea and vomiting, and severe heroin cravings.
• A range of treatments including medicines and behavioural therapies are effective in helping people stop heroin use.

What’s really alarming is its prevalence in children, as well as younger adults.

Source:  https://www.drugabuse.gov/drugs-abuse/heroin

In this brief article, let’s establish some ideas for consideration in combating heroin use.

1. Establishing a three digit phone number that can be called or texted 24 hours a day for an immediate, response to the person who is suffering from heroin addiction, anywhere, without persecution.

2. County-specific, nonprofit Help Centers that respond immediately to that person via their call or text to the three-digit number with transportation pickup via Center car service. Or, they can walk right in to a Center.

With more than 3,000 county and county-equivalents in the United States of America alone, the establishment of nonprofit centers for helping those with a heroin problem — without those people having to be concerned with persecution, prosecution, or having their reputation tarnished — could be a step in the right direction.

3. Bring to the forefront and utilize already established successful programs, such as Adult and Teen Challenge ©. Providing freedom from addiction for adults, teens and families. ©2017 Teen Challenge USA All Rights Reserved. https://www.teenchallengeusa.com/

4. Establish a re-entry benefit program delivered to the individuals suffering after they have received preliminary help and guidance by steering them into the county-specific Help Centers for follow-up, further treatment with such services as:

> Daily, every other day or weekly contact by their counselor.

> Weekly attendance back at the center for group meetings.

> Supplies to meet their daily needs, so they don’t have to be concerned with hygiene, clothes, food, shelter, as they need this support.

> Activities, activities, activities designed and brought forth to support them with a quality of life, social structure, and means to be active, participatory and growing in their community and home life.

> After completing the Help Center program, the ability of that person to re-enter the Center, and start over, if they need to.

These are some new and existing ideas to consider, and utilize.

And hopefully, just hopefully, continue the conversation on this critical issue.