Why Are Middle-Class Heroin Overdoses Skyrocketing?

By Dr. Mercola

A joint report^1,2,3,4 by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reveals lethal heroin overdoses nearly quadrupled between 2000 and 2013.

Between 2000 and 2010, heroin-related deaths rose at an average rate of 6 percent per year. Then, from 2010 to 2013, the average annual increase suddenly jumped to 37 percent.

What might account for such a radical increase in heroin overdoses?

As noted by CDC Director, Dr. Thomas Frieden:¹⁴ “Before they prescribe an opioid for the first time, doctors really need to look at the risks and the benefits, particularly for chronic pain like back pain, neck pain, headaches.  Really, does it make sense to give a prescription opiate for these conditions? What are the risks and what are the benefits? Well, we know the risks – someone can get addicted for life and if they take a few too many pills, they can die. The benefits are really unproven for chronic, non-cancer pain management.”

Indeed, despite dramatic increases in prescriptions, two papers,^15,16 published in the Annals of Internal Medicine earlier this year found NO evidence in the medical literature supporting the long-term safety and effectiveness of narcotic painkillers. Most trials do not go past six weeks, and there are no studies longer than one year on record. There’s also a lack of standardized trials evaluating the side effects of opioid use, which is the “golden standard” of medical science-based evidence.

Clearly, there are instances where a narcotic painkiller may be warranted, but it’s really important to use the lowest effective dose for as short a period of time as possible.  For people suffering from chronic pain, neither of these warnings is going to be popular, and many may argue that they can’t function without some form of pain relief. This is understandable, but if you’re struggling with chronic aches and pains, I urge you to take the time to investigate your options, and to really try to address the root of your pain rather than cover it up with a narcotic that can lead to debilitating addiction and death.

Non-Drug Alternatives for Pain Relief

Following are some of the most effective non-drug alternatives for the treatment of various types of pain that I know of. If you’re in pain, I recommend trying these first, before even thinking about prescription painkillers of any kind.

Sources and References

• ¹ CDC.gov Today’s Heroin Epidemic
• ² USA Today July 7, 2015
• ^3, 14 CNN July 7, 2015
• ⁴ Women in the World July 8, 2015
• ⁵ Reuters July 7, 2015
• ⁶ Time Magazine July 31, 2014
• ⁷ Scientific American July 1, 2014
• ⁸ US CDC Press Release July 2, 2013
• ⁹ The Atlantic July 7, 2015
• ¹⁰ Substance Abuse Mental-Health Services Administration, Behavioral Health Barometer US 2014 (PDF)
• ¹¹ Harvard Medical School, Addiction in Women
• ¹² Pain Medicine October 23, 2013
• ¹³ CNN November 14, 2012
• ¹⁵ Annals of Internal Medicine January 13, 2015, doi:10.7326/M14-2775 [Epub ahead of print]
• ¹⁶ Annals of Internal Medicine January 13, 2015, doi:10.7326/M14-2559 [Epub ahead of print]
• ¹⁷ Journal of Pain April 2004: 5(3); S52
• ¹⁸ ProCon.org, Medical Marijuana
• ¹⁹ Journal of Pain, Cannabis studies
• ²⁰ Arthritis & Rheumatism, Volume 54, Issue 11, pages 3452–3464, November 2006