Many Americans were stunned by the recent news that opioid overdoses have increased by 30% nationwide, and 70% in the Midwest, in just one year.
As a recovery company, the reaction of mainstream America to these statistics reminded us of the same disbelief we often hear from parents – “How did we get here? How did my child get addicted to heroin?”
Many individuals have a specific idea of what a “drug addict” looks like; and for a parent, the image of their child’s face would never come to mind. However, more and more Americans are waking up to the fact that anyone can become physiologically addicted to opioids – it’s an extremely addictive substance.
So, how did your child get addicted to heroin?
The answer is complex, and unique to every family and individual. However, in our experience, there are common denominators when it comes to heroin addiction. One of which is that the path to heroin often begins with prescription drugs. In fact, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, about 80 percent of people who use heroin first misused prescription opioids.
Did you know that in 2001 the US Joint Commission introduced pain as a new, “fifth vital sign”? Meaning, pain was no longer just a symptom, it was considered a measurement of bodily function, like blood pressure and heart rate.
What’s more, the Joint Commission printed a book that cited studies claiming “there is no evidence that addiction is a significant issue when persons are given opioids for pain control.” The book also labeled doctors’ concerns about opioid addiction “inaccurate and exaggerated.” The book was sponsored by Purdue Pharma.
This pain chart may look familiar. As soon as pain was declared a vital sign, this chart was tacked on the walls of hospitals, clinics and family practitioners’ offices nationwide.
Suddenly, the proverbial door swung open for pharmaceutical companies to distribute pain medication to Americans en masse. Along with the supply increase, there was a rise in pharmaceutical marketing campaigns, and consequently, increased social acceptance of prescription drug use. Simultaneously, overdoses have experienced the same upward trajectory.
So, how did your child get addicted to heroin?
As a recovery company, we are less concerned with how you got here than how we can help you move forward. However, we hope that the opioid crisis reaching mainstream news will continue to increase awareness that this epidemic is affecting families everywhere.
When those families are ready, we’re here to help them fight back.
Brass Tacks Recovery believes that there is hope for every individual and family struggling with addiction. Let us help you achieve long-term recovery. Please call (888) 277-8225.
