N.Y. TIMES: Heroin in New England, More Abundant and Deadly

Times reporter KATHARINE Q. SEELYE candidly reports on the rise of heroin use in New England and factors that are contributing to the rise of fatal overdoses in the area. It’s a harsh reality here in New England in the lives of many addicts who live actively in desperation in their addiction. Those of us working in the front lines in this regional epidemic, are all too familiar of the tragic costs of this issue. Nevertheless, we manage together & piece our collective strengths to address the needs of our community that’s held under siege of this powerful drug at this moment.

According to the Times, a federal study in 2011 showed that the treatment admission rate for opiate addiction was higher in Maine, and New England, than elsewhere in the country, though communities everywhere are reporting problems.Heroin killed 21 people in Maine last year, three times as many as in 2011, according to the state’s Office of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services. New Hampshire recorded 40 deaths from heroin overdoses last year, up from just 7 a decade ago. In Vermont, the Health Department reported that 914 people were treated for heroin abuse last year, up from 654 the year before, an increase of almost 40 percent.

CAUTION: This video contains graphic IV drug use that may be startling to some viewers…discretion is advised.

Heroin in New England, More Abundant and Deadly – N.Y. TIMES VIDEO (CLICK HERE)

SOURCE: www.nytimes.com