Opioids are a class of drugs that include the illegal drug heroin, a synthetic drug called fentanyl, and pain relievers available legally by prescription, such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, codeine, morphine, and many others. Opioids work by binding to the body’s opiate receptors; highly concentrated in areas of the brain that control pain and emotions. When opiate drugs bind to these receptors, they can drive up dopamine levels in the brain’s reward areas, producing a state of euphoria and relaxation, some people get the urge to use the drug again and again. Kentucky in the past four years has had over 800 overdoses from heroin alone. Boone County has had almost 300 in the past four years. The Opioid Epidemic is a social justice issue that needs to be given awareness because more and more people are dying every year and nothing is being done to help this crisis. The Opioid Crisis is at a nonstop growing point; while nothing is being done people are dying more and more everyday.
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Heroin and other opioid drugs are known as “street drugs” because they are easy to get and sold on the streets. Heroin has many nicknames: H., Black Pearl, Brown Sugar, Witch Hazel, Birdie Powder, Dragon, Black Tar, Big H. Dog, Horse, Puppy, and many more. Fentanyl is also a “street drug” with various nicknames; Apache, China girl, China white, dance fever, friend, goodfella, jackpot, murder 8, TNT, Tango and Cash. etc. (Watkins, 2016, #6) . These drugs are easy to get but yet hard to receive help when they become a problem.Overdose occurs when a toxic amount of a drug or combination of drugs is taken. Opioids in particular pose a higher risk of overdose as they can depress the central nervous system causing breathing to slow, sometimes to the point of stopping altogether. According to The Nation’s Best Rehabs, in 1997, in rehab facilities, there were 235,143 admissions from individuals abusing Heroin as their primary use. By 2007, the number increased to 246,871. These facilities become overcrowded that more and more abusers are being denied help and not getting the help they need. Northern Kentucky, Louisville, and Lexington have been hit the hardest by this overpowering addiction. According to The National Institute of Drug Abuse, by 2016 the State of Kentucky had 989 deaths related to opioid drugs (NIDA, 2018). That’s 4.47 million prescriptions per 100 people. According to the Center for Disease Control, an estimate of 114 people die a day because of drugs. A survey conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration found that as many as 90 percent of people who most need drug rehab do not receive it (SAMHSA, n.d.). Coming from a personal aspect, I have had a family member who needed treatment and did not receive the help he needed and because of this he overdosed before the age of forty. An average of 6,748 people a year are sent to the emergency room from fear of overdose (NIDA, 2018). Annually, 1 out of 4 heroin users overdose. Another personal experience from this is my uncle works in an ambulance and he said that most calls from overdose victims are from the same house and they take their time getting there because it’s the same routine over and over again. This proves
Heroin and other opioid drugs are known as “street drugs” because they are easy to get and sold on the streets. Heroin has many nicknames: H., Black Pearl, Brown Sugar, Witch Hazel, Birdie Powder, Dragon, Black Tar, Big H. Dog, Horse, Puppy, and many more. Fentanyl is also a “street drug” with various nicknames; Apache, China girl, China white, dance fever, friend, goodfella, jackpot, murder 8, TNT, Tango and Cash. etc. (Watkins, 2016, #6) . These drugs are easy to get but yet hard to receive help when they become a problem.Overdose occurs when a toxic amount of a drug or combination of drugs is taken. Opioids in particular pose a higher risk of overdose as they can depress the central nervous system causing breathing to slow, sometimes to the point of stopping altogether. According to The Nation’s Best Rehabs, in 1997, in rehab facilities, there were 235,143 admissions from individuals abusing Heroin as their primary use. By 2007, the number increased to 246,871. These facilities become overcrowded that more and more abusers are being denied help and not getting the help they need. Northern Kentucky, Louisville, and Lexington have been hit the hardest by this overpowering addiction. According to The National Institute of Drug Abuse, by 2016 the State of Kentucky had 989 deaths related to opioid drugs (NIDA, 2018). That’s 4.47 million prescriptions per 100 people. According to the Center for Disease Control, an estimate of 114 people die a day because of drugs. A survey conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration found that as many as 90 percent of people who most need drug rehab do not receive it (SAMHSA, n.d.). Coming from a personal aspect, I have had a family member who needed treatment and did not receive the help he needed and because of this he overdosed before the age of forty. An average of 6,748 people a year are sent to the emergency room from fear of overdose (NIDA, 2018). Annually, 1 out of 4 heroin users overdose. Another personal experience from this is my uncle works in an ambulance and he said that most calls from overdose victims are from the same house and they take their time getting there because it’s the same routine over and over again. This proves