Heroin an urgent 'public health crisis' in U.S.

The Obama administration is effectively doubling the number of lower income Americans eligible for Medicaid coverage. The prescription drug overdose level will likely double right along with that increase.

"The prescription drug overdose level will likely double right along with that increase."

"Likely"? So you don't actually know, do you.

The prescription drug overdose level will likely double right along with that increase.

Not likely. One of the things fueling the heroin boom is that people are becoming addicted to pills like oxycodine (sp?) and oxycotin (sp?), but these are expensive and hard to get prescriptions for, and expensive on the street. So they switch to heroin which is the same high, but much cheaper.

The poor will still be poor even after Obama care kicks in.

"Critics say that making the antidote too accessible could encourage drug use..."

It is highly doubtful that users in search of a recreational high are going to do so because of the added 'assurance' of an antidote. That is simply not typical behavior. And when it comes to heavily dependent addicts, they could care less when it comes to getting their next fix. A child or a toddler however, who has stumbled on their parent's supply of prescription opiates could have their lives saved by the availability of Narcan.

The idea of witholding any potentially life saving drug is about as ill advised as making contraceptives unavailable to teenagers in a bid to curb sexual activity.

Given all the grief in the world that America is responsible for, turning to heroin for relief is no surprise.

@ Ranger_Miffy2

Don't hate the key players hate the game, learn it and live it!

Drugs are essentially poison and medicines are drugs. Sometimes they are necessary because it does change something about the way your body is working to try to make it work better. However they are still drugs. Whether they act as stimulants or sedatives, too much can kill you. So if you do not use medicines as they are suppose to be used, they can be dangerous as illegal drugs. I believe people take drugs because they want to change something in their lives. Whether it is to fit in, escape or relax, relieve boredom, to seem grown up or rebel, experiment etc. Unfortunately they think drugs are a solution. But eventually the drug use becomes the problem. Difficult as it may be to face one's problem, the consequences of drug use are always worse than the problem one is trying to solve with them. The real answer is to get the facts and not take the drugs in the first place. Knowledge is potential power.

I believe people take drugs because they want to change something in their lives. Whether it is to fit in, escape or relax, relieve boredom, to seem grown up or rebel, experiment etc. Unfortunately they think drugs are a solution. But eventually the drug use becomes the problem. Difficult as it may be to face one's problem, the consequences of drug use are always worse than the problem one is trying to solve with them. The real answer is to get the facts and not take the drugs in the first place.

A lot of people say this, because it is what they have been told growing up. But there is a really easy way to show that it is in fact incorrect logic.

Alcohol is a drug. It is an intoxicant. Often they don't think of it as a drug, because it is legal, and people think drugs refers to something illegal. But the legal status of a drug is not what makes it a drug, the intoxicating effects are what make it a drug. There are plenty of legal drugs out there, consider that fake marijuana that is popular these days. I think everyone would agree its a drug, even though it's legal.

So lets look at the above quote, but swap out the word 'drugs' for 'alcohol'.

I believe people drink alcohol because they want to change something in their lives. Whether it is to fit in, escape or relax, relieve boredom, to seem grown up or rebel, experiment etc. Unfortunately they think alcohol is a solution. But eventually the drinking becomes the problem. Difficult as it may be to face one's problem, the consequences of drinking are always worse than the problem one is trying to solve by drinking. The real answer is to get the facts and not drink in the first place.

As you can see, the statement makes less sense when switched to the legal drug, alcohol. Many people drink responsibly, for example having a drink after work. Many people drink without having any problem that they are trying to cover, they just enjoy getting a little buzz on sometimes. Most people never drink to the point where it becomes a problem. And if one drinks responsibly, the consequences are minimal. Sure they may be better off to never drink in the first place, but that does not mean they are necessarily worse off from drinking.

"Often they don't think of it as a drug, because it is legal,"

No, the main reason is that tastes so goddamn good. Fine wines, whiskies, etc are part of gastronomic cultures throughout the world. No one purchases fine wine to get high. Heroin, etc. and in a wholly different category and should be made illegal.

No one purchases fine wine to get high. Heroin, etc. and in a wholly different category and should be made illegal.

Heroin is illegal, very illegal. I'm surprised by this though… heroin, really? I thought that went out of style a long time ago. I've seen a woman on heroin once, and it scared the life out of me. This is a hell of a drug, and it's really, really scary to hear it's making a comeback.