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Understanding the Heroin Epidemic

Is there a heroin epidemic? Heroin is an illicit substance. It is a type of opioid, much like prescription pain killers. This is a very dangerous drug that creates addiction quickly and puts any person using it at risk of an overdose. If you’re using heroin, you could be at risk of developing a severe addiction that threatens your life. At Atlantic Recovery Center, we want to help you avoid becoming just another number.

What Are the Statistics on Heroin Use?

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services makes it clear, a heroin epidemic is working through the United States. In 2018, there were about 10.3 million people over the age of 12 that misused opioids in some manner, many of them using heroin itself.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse sheds more light. In 2017, over 70,200 people in the U.S. died from drug overdoses in the country. Of those, 15,482 of them were due to heroin overdoses. It’s also important to look at the change over time with heroin misuse. For example, the data shows that in 1999, just 1960 people died from heroin overdoses. In 2007, that number was 2,399 people. That’s an incredible climate over a short period of time.

Why Is There an Epidemic Happening?

The heroin epidemic can be blamed on many factors, but some of it comes down to the increase in prescription drugs. As doctors were pushed by pharmaceutical companies to increase the number of prescriptions written for opioid pain relievers to patients, this created an increase in the number of people who need pain medication on a constant basis. That’s because the body demands more and more of the drug to reach the same type of high.

Patients unable to get prescription opioids routinely or at increasing doses were forced to find other options. Heroin does the same thing that prescription drugs do, at a much higher level, filling this need. This, as well as more access to the illicit substance on the streets, has led to more people dying from heroin overdoses.

We Are Working to Fight the Heroin Epidemic

At Atlantic Recovery Center, we recognize that you cannot stop using drugs on your own, especially powerfully controlling drugs like heroin. We can help you. We offer a comprehensive treatment plan designed to help you to stop dependency on a drug like this. Our team offers help such as:

If you are facing overdose or know that you are addicted to heroin, there is help available to you through our service. For those who have a loved one facing the same types of challenges, we can help you as well. Turn to our team to learn more about the treatment plans we offer and how we can help you get your loved one help.

What Makes Our Treatment Program Unique?

Getting help for heroin is an option for most people. Our drug and alcohol treatment center is focused on providing you with the tools and resources you need to recover. This includes:

  • We provide full examinations; if detox is necessary, we can refer you to a local solution.
  • Small, individualized care plans are designed just for you.
  • We offer a family-style approach dedicated to meeting each one of your needs.
  • A positive, uplifting program is always available to you.
  • We offer specialized care for those who are union workers.

The heroin epidemic is happening in the U.S. If you are using heroin or prescription drugs, you have a right to find the help you need to get out of this situation. Our team is here to help. We offer evidence-based treatment and holistic care to encourage full-body healing. In a positive environment with dedicated professionals, we can meet each one of your goals with superior care.

Are You Suffering from Heroin Addiction?

If you are using heroin or other opioids, you deserve help. It is available to you in many ways, including in our treatment program. At Atlantic Recovery Center, we don’t want you to be another number in the heroin epidemic. Reach out to us for immediate help and support by calling 1-866-824-5193 now.