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[Dr.Acula]

Someone needs to go into these places and find out what turns people to drugs.

I'm 30 going on 31 and I've never any sort of illegal drugs in my lifetime and I've never had the urge to. What's the difference between the life I've lived and those that turn to drugs?

You get in a car accident, doc prescribes you some Oxycodone, you take it for a month just so you can sleep. After a month, you still have pain, you get a re-up. Two months, no more reups. You start taking tylenol 4-5 at a time, still not working. Go to your GP who gets you on T3s, still not working, you try and get some more Oxy through craigslist or a friend or whatever. That's fine now. A year goes by and 4 pills a day isn't enough, because you're building tolerance constantly.

A lot of people fall into it because they're put on these drugs and literally can't function w/o them for the pain, and the recovery time is long enough to build a dependence.

 

[Abounder]

We can thank big pharma for the over-prescription culture. Painkillers are a scam - it only get worse for users as your tolerance builds up and the prescriptions get shorter. But gotta fight pain with pain I suppose.

 

[platocplx]

Someone needs to go into these places and find out what turns people to drugs.

I'm 30 going on 31 and I've never any sort of illegal drugs in my lifetime and I've never had the urge to. What's the difference between the life I've lived and those that turn to drugs?

Experimentation, Lack of Oppertunity, lack of attention at home or a good support system, poverty, being over prescribed for pain, kids getting into their parents meds just so many ways and we need to stop throwing people in jail and help them cope and heal.

 

[Rembrandt]

Heroin is something that, even at my most experimental, I always stayed away from. Terrifying drug. I've run across it a few times and it always scared the fuck out of me.

Same. It's horrifying, though I dabble in pain pills occasionally so I'm kind of a hypocrite.

 

[m0dus]

Overdosing isn't an instant death.
Narcan can save you.

The EMTs at UC health actually RAN OUT of narcan because of the unprecedented influx of overdoses.

 

[wwm0nkey]

Lost quite a few class mates here because of it. No idea what my high-school reunion will even look like now (I live in Cincinnati)

 

[StopMakingSense]

Ever had a severe physical injury? That is where it starts for some people.

Yeah, its surprising how strongly the dependency can come on even from short term use. I was taking Percocet for a double knee replacement, and even after about 3 weeks I could tell I was forming a dependency on it. Them when the prescription ran out that first day off of it was insanely uncomfortable. My knees felt of and on like they were on fire, but that died down after about one or two days. Really scary.

 

[trembli0s]

I read an article from a reputable drug reporter stating the pseudo-legalization of marijuana is what has really ramped up the trafficking of opiates. Mexican cartels ended up taking a 40% hit to their profits because people stopped buying Mexican MJ due to better, legal alternatives in the US.

Scary stuff, especially with fentanyl involved and all the other crazy shit people are cutting in.

 

[Rockandrollclown]

Yeah, the heroin problem was the main reason I left my old neighborhood in Cincy. Things are bad here.

 

[capitalCORN]

Yeah, its surprising how strongly the dependency can come on even from short term use. I was taking Percocet for a double knee replacement, and even after about 3 weeks I could tell I was forming a dependency on it. Them when the prescription ran out that first day off of it was insanely uncomfortable. My knees felt of and on like they were on fire, but that died down after about one or two days. Really scary.

It's heroin, it's as deep as the pool goes. Even in my prime junkie days, I can count the times I did H on one hand. And it was all bumps anyways.

 

[afternoon delight]

Seems like we need state programs where all addicts can get off of drugs, free of charge.

Ah shit forgot about the war on drugs.

The DEA is here to serve and protect you citizen, fear not! They won't bat an eye behind their military hardware!

 

[Ambient80]

Overdosing isn't an instant death.
Narcan can save you.

In theory yes, but it's not a get out of jail free card as it can sometimes not work. Also carfentanil needs sometimes 4,5,6+ doses of Narcan to counteract its effects.

 

[AxelFoley]

Shifty, Smoothie and D-Money strike again.

 

[e_i]

We had three heroin overdoes in as many days in my library a month ago

 

[Beer Monkey]

It's really crazy right now. I live in the city proper in Cincinnati, and the number of ODs and related car accidents is completely nuts. So many tweakers and junkies in my neighborhood these days.

Decriminalization and treatment is what we need. Look to Portugal.

 

[MWS Natural]

And no one will give a shit.

Depends on what percentage of those deaths where white people.

 

[Jacob]

Someone needs to go into these places and find out what turns people to drugs.

I'm 30 going on 31 and I've never any sort of illegal drugs in my lifetime and I've never had the urge to. What's the difference between the life I've lived and those that turn to drugs?

For a lot of people with really serious addictions they started using because of chronic pain or mental health issues that were in some way assuaged by the drug early on.

 

[SecretMoblin]

We can thank big pharma for the over-prescription culture. Painkillers are a scam - it only get worse for users as your tolerance builds up and the prescriptions get shorter. But gotta fight pain with pain I suppose.

Painkillers themselves are no scam -- they are absolutely essential tools of modern medicine. Fighting abuse requires a shift in cultural attitudes and medical procedure (including the industry and doctor/patient relationships).

It's weird to see, in every thread about drug abuse, the same stuff about painkillers being more trouble than they're worth. They really aren't.

 

[mike6467]

You get in a car accident, doc prescribes you some Oxycodone, you take it for a month just so you can sleep. After a month, you still have pain, you get a re-up. Two months, no more reups. You start taking tylenol 4-5 at a time, still not working. Go to your GP who gets you on T3s, still not working, you try and get some more Oxy through craigslist or a friend or whatever. That's fine now. A year goes by and 4 pills a day isn't enough, because you're building tolerance constantly.

A lot of people fall into it because they're put on these drugs and literally can't function w/o them for the pain, and the recovery time is long enough to build a dependence.

I can vouch for this. My car got totaled by a drunk driver in 2013. They were giving me 120 count bottles of percocets for a ruptured disc in my back. After six months, my doctor decided to cut them off, I hadn't been abusing them, I'd even had extras left. Nonetheless, that was the order; and it put me in hell. Seriously, that was like 2 weeks of the worst hangover I've ever had combined with the worst flu I've ever had. I can't imagine being a multiyear heroin user trying to go cold turkey, Jesus.

With that said, an acquaintance of mine let me know that he could get me some off the street. I considered it, because, in the midst of that, you're pretty much willing to try anything because it's so miserable. I eventually realized where he was getting them, and where that road could eventually lead, so I stayed the course and got off them. When you combine their pain relief qualities, along with the high, along with the threat of hell on earth withdrawal, you can see how this type of thing happens.

 

[How About No]

Holy fuck, I'm scared shitless if I ever have to be prescribed painkillers

I'll take my chances with aspirin and cry in bed every night if I have to, I don't wanna touch the shit

 

[entremet]

Depends on what percentage of those deaths where white people.

To be fair, many white people have been afflicted here and don't forget the meth epidemic, which is mostly poor whites.

We just don't care generally as a country. We're not about treatment or prevention, but punishment and shaming.

 

[captjohnboyd]

Very New research indicates that many people are predisposed to addiction as well (in addition to all the valid reasons others are posting here). What ends up happening for a lot of these people is they're always looking for something to fill that malfunctioning part of them and if it's not opiates it's gambling or overeating or drinking etc. Charlie Rose does a series on the brain on his show pretty regularly and he had some leading specialists on a year or so back talking about it. Really fascinating stuff

Until we change the way we address addiction in this country from a treatment standpoint you're going to have problems like this. On an interesting side note I went to college in WV several hours from cincy and they had the same thing happen on a smaller scale (about 47 in a week I think) about a week ago. Must be making the rounds of all the rust belt region

 

[Esque7]

It's pretty terrible up here in NE Ohio too. Most people I know are in the train of thought of "just let them die" and at this point and I have to agree. While narcan is widely available now, it's enabling users to keep ODing because they know there's little to no consequence. Our medical services simply can't sustain this and until Ohio has rehab reform, the problem will only get worse. It's incredibly hard to get clean in this state.

 

[Freeza Under The Shower]

Sounds like someone's idea for mass murder got a pass?

Seriously, don't do drugs alone. Doesn't work for hollywood actors either.

 

[Lmo911]

I'm sure there are methadone clinics in Cincinnati

Not in my backyard.

Our culture has too much of a stigma for this stuff to have the effect it really needs too and shifting to treatment from punishment is going to take a long time.

 

[LucidMomentum]

Sounds like someone's idea for mass murder got a pass?

Seriously, don't do drugs alone. Doesn't work for hollywood actors either.

Or just do weed if you want to relax. Like, it's funny how many people think it's just as bad as drugs like cocaine, heroin, and meth, but it's not even on the same spectrum.

The war on drugs was a mistake.

 

[tkscz]

My sister works for the UC hospital and has been talking about this, its a mess.

My mom works at UC main campus. Says at times she sees some students talking about doing it and where to buy it. Shits crazy.

Spoiler

Sucks when the two things your home city is currently known for are a Heroine epidemic and a dead Gorilla.

Depends on what percentage of those deaths where white people.

We're a majority black city, but most of the over doses are of white people and no one gives a shit.

I'm sure there are methadone clinics in Cincinnati

Like two or three, they are always busy and for most people hard to get to.

Got anymore questions about here? I can answer them.

 

[commedieu]

I'm sure there are methadone clinics in Cincinnati

You understand the point about having these free nation wide to help all addicts, right?

 

[Abounder]

Painkillers themselves are no scam -- they are absolutely essential tools of modern medicine. Fighting abuse requires a shift in cultural attitudes and medical procedure (including the industry and doctor/patient relationships).

It's weird to see, in every thread about drug abuse, the same stuff about painkillers being more trouble than they're worth. They really aren't.

Balance is key but odds are stacked against the user since opiates are highly addicting and the industry is corrupt as hell, thus the over-prescription epidemic. There's no wonder drug but I blame mostly bureacracy:

Since 1999, the amount of prescription opioids sold in the U.S. nearly quadrupled, yet there has not been an overall change in the amount of pain that Americans report. Deaths from prescription opioids—drugs like oxycodone, hydrocodone, and methadone—have also quadrupled since 1999.

https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/epidemic/

 

[entremet]

Sounds like someone's idea for mass murder got a pass?

Seriously, don't do drugs alone. Doesn't work for hollywood actors either.

It's more the type of drug here.

Heroin is no joke. Cannabis doesn't have this effect, both in addictive component and mortality.

 

[subrock]

Fentanyl... Get that shit off the streets. It's killing a bunch of people in BC too. At least make a test for the shit.

 

[Arken2121]

I work for a certain city in South Florida as a firefighter/medic with the worst shift including 4 overdoses. All of which are laced with Fentynal. Most are dead by the time we get there.

Edit;. Also, it costs $20 a hit on the street. Relatively inexpensive.

 

[someday]

I get what you're saying but you're not taking into account that the reason so many people moved to heroin wasn't because it is stronger, it's because it's available. The harder they made it to get the pills, the more people started using heroin. That's where this whole current heroin "epidemic" stems from.

I love the show Drugs, Inc and they talked about how once you get hooked on pills, the cost is what will often get people to switch to heroin. The pills are expensive but heroin is cheap by comparison.

I saw a commercial that basically asked, Suffer from opiate induced constipation? Fuck quitting them, just take this additional laxative pill.

Yeah, I've seen this and was pretty saddened that our society has such a opiate problem that it is normal to create another pill to combat the constipation it causes.

To be fair, many white people have been afflicted here and don't forget the meth epidemic, which is mostly poor whites.

We just don't care generally as a country. We're not about treatment or prevention, but punishment and shaming.

There was an article or thread a while ago that suggested that the US might start treating opiate addictions differently since, not only does it mostly affect whites, but it is largely noticed in white suburbia. Once soccer moms started getting hooked, it was a problem.

 

[Red]

It's pretty terrible up here in NE Ohio too. Most people I know are in the train of thought of "just let them die" and at this point and I have to agree. While narcan is widely available now, it's enabling users to keep ODing because they know there's little to no consequence. Our medical services simply can't sustain this and until Ohio has rehab reform, the problem will only get worse. It's incredibly hard to get clean in this state.

I have heard doctors, pharmacists, and first responders all entertain the idea of withholding narcan from repeat offenders for this very reason. It's disturbing and I think totally the wrong attitude to take, but I understand the frustration. Without a serious systemic change nothing will be fixed in the short term.

 

[someday]

I have heard doctors, pharmacists, and first responders all entertain the idea of withholding narcan from repeat offenders for this very reason. It's disturbing and I think totally the wrong attitude to take, but I understand the frustration. Without a serious systemic change nothing will be fixed in the short term.

Isn't that basically letting someone die?

 

[Red]

Isn't that basically letting someone die?

Yes.

But when people repeatedly tie up resources by subjecting themselves to preventable harm, the people who are left to clean up the mess over and over again can become frustrated.

I disagree that a punitive solution is the best one. A lot of the people who I've heard suggest the fate of addicts should be left in their own hands are often of two minds (such conversations reveal these things): a.) the addict is ultimately in control of his own future, and someone who is not purposefully risking his own life may lose his life due to a heart attack or stroke or accident while hands are busy or overtired handling an overdose; b.) this is a systemic disease and addiction/overdose are mere symptoms of a larger problem, so addicts can not be held wholly accountable. Blame vacillates. It is difficult to pin.

 

[DarkKyo]

I feel like this drug should be harder to get into than it is. The fact that you need to inject it.... what's going through someone's head when they're willfully doing this for the first time? How are so many people lacking such basic common sense that they choose to try this for a first time?

 

[legbone]

They're cutting that shit with elephant tranquilizer? Jesus Christ.

sounds like they are cutting elephant tranquilizer with heroin. i'm sure heroin is cheaper. i know heroin is cheaper than fentanyl. so when you hear of people cutting heroin with fentanyll, it's actually the other way around.

 

[RoyaleDuke]

The reality is that this news will only fuel purchases of the drug, Dealers often will occasionally put stronger batches of Heroin on the streets, or heroin cut with shit like this.

I mean I saw on drugs inc, a dealer who literally said if some kid ODs sales of his H go through the roof. From the few drug dealers I've known, they have pretty much said the same thing.

Heroin, Fentanyl, and prescription pain killers are a fucking blight on society now more than ever.

 

[someday]

Yes.

But when people repeatedly tie up resources by subjecting themselves to preventable harm, the people who are left to clean up the mess over and over again can become frustrated.

I get that but drug use isn't the only form of self-harm people do. I'm not comfortable at all with health care professionals deciding which patients deserve their care and which patients don't.

 

[Red]

I get that but drug use isn't the only form of self-harm people do. I'm not comfortable at all with health care professionals deciding which patients deserve their care and which patients don't.

I seriously doubt any of the people I've talked to would deny care on the basis of their emotions. They are professionals. But they are also human, and give voice to their frustrations.

 

[Chabbles]

Heroin is something that, even at my most experimental, I always stayed away from.

Thats how i've always looked at it too, fuck that stuff.

Someone needs to go into these places and find out what turns people to drugs.

I'm 30 going on 31 and I've never any sort of illegal drugs in my lifetime and I've never had the urge to. What's the difference between the life I've lived and those that turn to drugs?

How exposed to drugs were you growing up ?

 

[iamblades]

I feel like this drug should be harder to get into than it is. The fact that you need to inject it.... what's going through someone's head when they're willfully doing this for the first time? How are so many people lacking such basic common sense that they choose to try this for a first time?

But you don't, and even if you did, most of these people are not starting with Heroin.

They move to heroin because, frankly, it is cheaper and more accessible than the pharmaceuticals that got them hooked in the first place.

I'm not some anti-opiate absolutist, I think they are still by far the best option we have for dealing with acute pain, but the doctors who prescribe opiates for chronic pain are basically criminal IMO.

Opiates are completely not a fix for chronic pain, and we have known this for decades.

 

[edbrat]

saw a documentary on HBO called heroin cape cod which is good for some insight into how people get addicted to opiates. It's scary as fuck but yes the painkiller to smack road is a very well travelled one, it's just sad as fuck. People shouldn't be dying just bc they want to get high for whatever reason.

 

[elrechazado]

NPR's embedded podcast has two episodes about opiate addiction. Very worth your time.

 

[Condom]

Could be Fentanyl sold as heroin that is causing these deaths. Fentanyl is a couple of magnitudes stronger than heroin.

Most opiate deaths (IIRC) are caused by either the mixing of different opiates/opioids or a big difference in quality. Both things can be solved by creating some kind of legal or decriminalized public option or private market for these drugs.

A solution that works better with the current public perception may be testing centers of some sort.

 

[ironcreed]

Heroin is something that, even at my most experimental, I always stayed away from. Terrifying drug. I've run across it a few times and it always scared the fuck out of me.

Same here. You could not pay me to try that shit. And people are taking it cut with elephant tranquilizers? Jesus Christ.

 

[Dali]

I really wonder what, if any, the repercussions are within this drug dealing enterprise for the person that killed hundreds of loyal customers by thinking tsp meant tablespoon.

 

[NastyBook]

Shifty, Smoothie and D-Money strike again.

Those dastardly deviants.

 

[Hasphat'sAnts]

I just don't understand why people would even want to try this after there is so much info out there how it destroys lives. Just stick to weed

C'mon son.