Making the Switch from Painkillers to Heroin a Real Problem in the US

Heroin abuse became most popular in the 1960s. Its abusers were mostly younger white males in their mid-teens living in low income neighborhoods. Now, the demographic of people seen in drug rehab for heroin abuse is much different than it was over 60 years ago, in large part because many addicts are switching from prescription painkillers to heroin abuse. As a result, heroin abuse is reaching epidemic levels.

Similarities

Today, the average heroin addict begins using the drug at around 23 years of age, while living in more affluent neighborhoods. Many of these addicts began by misusing prescription drugs before switching to heroin when seeking a more potent high.

The drugs are surprisingly similar. Painkillers such as OxyContin, Vicodin and Percocet all contain opioid compound obtained from morphine. These opioid compounds cause a similar feeling as endorphins, which causes a feeling of happiness and euphoria.

Heroin is also comprised of these opioid compounds, but is not typically made in a pure form and contains additional dangerous chemicals. Because of the impurities in heroin and its higher addictive levels, overdose is much more common among heroin abusers who do not get treatment from drug rehab.

Why Make the Switch?

Opiate addictions develop rapidly, thus creating the need to take the drug in higher doses and more frequently. As the addiction rapidly increases, so do the tolerance levels. Cost also becomes a factor. Painkillers can become pricey and harder to get ahold of, whereas heroin can be fairly cheap for the type of high that can be achieved.

Unfortunately, many new heroin addicts begin their addiction in this way — after losing access to prescription painkillers, they switch to heroin abuse. Although many prescription pills have been tweaked to lessen their addictive nature, drug rehab centers are still seeing more patients that have made the transition from pain killers to heroin, creating a nationwide epidemic.

Leah Ferguson is a health writer for Fusion 360, an SEO and content marketing agency. Information provided by Odyssey House. Follow on Twitter