Prescription Drug Abuse Fueling Rise in Heroin Addiction

Guest post by ADAPT member Krishna Patel

According to a recent NBC News report, the increase in prescription drug abuse is contributing to the rise in heroin addiction. An increasing number of young people who initially abuse prescription medications are now switching to heroin. This shift in drugs is due to the cost associated with obtaining prescription medications, which are much more expensive than heroin. Prescription drugs usually range from $20-60 whereas heroin costs $3-10. This greatly appeals to the younger crowd especially since they feel that they can get a better, more intense high for a cheaper price.

The rise in Heroin addiction is definitely growing in all communities, not just the inner cities. For those living near major cities, heroin can be easier to obtain than prescription drugs. They can easily take a drive into the city, where they know they can find what they are looking for with ease instead of having to look for someone who has a prescription.

A mother recently wrote a plea to other parents regarding these assumptions and drug use among teens. Many people believe that by living in the suburbs their children are sheltered from the issues that tend to plague cities by being in a safer environment. However, young people in suburbs are also susceptible to this succession of abusing prescription drugs and moving to others as their addiction grows.

“It’s hard to talk about the heroin problem without talking about the prescription drug problem,” said Rafael Lemaitre, of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. The two go hand in hand when it comes to understanding the issues with drug abuse and addiction in our communities. It’s time for all residents to unite in a battle against abuse and addiction and to provide support for our fellow residents dealing with addiction.

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