Talee Noorda

Professor Roberts

Life, Society, and Drugs

August 5th, 2017

Research paper

Heroin is a highly addictive drug that is used by addicts all around the world with an

alarming high number of addicts in the state of Utah. This highly addictive drug is hard to quit

due to its effects and extreme withdrawal symptoms. Heroin made its appearance in the world

in 1898, when a German pharmaceutical company created it as a new form of morphine.

Heroin is made from opium poppy plants, which is still grown today in many countries. It is

something that still appeals to Americans today, especially high schoolers. The University of

Michigan collected data from 1991 to 2011, and found that 1 to 2 percent of all high school

seniors have used heroin as some time. Unfortunately, since opioids and heroin have been

around for so long it is very hard to have control over these drugs.

The high that heroin gives after it is injected is what leaves heroin abusers

coming back for more, the craving is almost impossible to fight. After heroin is injected, the

initial feeling is a tingling sensation in the lower part of the body that resembles a sexual

orgasm. A minute or two after, feelings of euphoria appear. A tranquil drowsiness state follows

the intense euphoria which lasts for about three to four hours. At the end of four hours is when

withdrawal symptoms begin, and the abuser already craves another heroin injection. Due to

heroins addicting qualities trying it once may be enough to get you hooked.
 Heroin dependence is extremely high and is known to have some of the worst

withdrawal symptoms when compared to other drugs, this is often what stops heroin abusers

from quitting. Heroin withdrawal symptoms are often comparable to flu-like symptoms, weight

loss, or even life-threatening issues.

Heroin has major effects on the body and the mind, a lot of the times the user doesnt

know what they are getting themselves into. Heroin has a small lethal dosage when compared

to its effective dose, this means that if the abuser increases their dosage by 10 or 15 times it is

life threatening. Using an accidental different dose of heroin is always a worry in heroin

abusers, the potency might look the same but it could be completely different, which can

possibly be fatal. Abusers can also develop a tolerance which is developed when they inject in

the same environment several times. The abusers body begins to require a higher dosage in a

familiar environment, in order to get high. But if the abuser were to be in a different

environment and take the same level of dosage their body wont react the same, resulting in

fatal consequences. Heroin can also produce respiratory depression, and other fatal

physiological reactions. If someone too young is exposed to heroin, they can develop

Parkinsons disease due to the amount of MPTP that destroys dopamine-sensitive neurons.

After trying heroin one you can already be addicted, think about these fatal consequences

before you take the needle.

Heroins most popular way of administration is a needle injection, but it can also be

taken many different ways. In Asia and Middles Eastern countries, heroin smoking is extremely

popular. New heroin users usually begin snorting the drug through the nose or inject it right

under the skin (not in vein). Oral consumption is usually pointless because it doesnt absorb.
Experienced abusers may snort the drug or inject it under the skin if they cant find any veins,

but vein injection is the most common way to take the drug.

Learning that Utah has a heroin abuse issue may be surprising to many. That is because they

may not know it, but heroin is all over Utah. Austin Davis, who is a former heroin addict, says

that heroin is under everyones noses, youd be surprised how many users you drive by on a

daily basis. Heroin usage in Utah has seen a spike from southern Utah County, all the way up

into Ogden territory. With the most populated area being downtown near the homeless

shelter, and Pioneer Park. The street term for Heroin in Utah is Black, (Trimble). Users and

dealers can communicate so discreetly when selling or buying heroin. It is commonly sold in

water balloons that possess a small amount of heroin. An exchange between a dealer and a

buyer could be over in as little as ten seconds, making it difficult for police to spot.

Why the recent sudden spike in Heroin? Utah is well known for its prescription drug abuse

problem. 80% of heroin users in Utah started with prescription drugs. (Rothermel).

Prescription pain killers, the most popular being OxyContin are highly addictive. When

OxyContin was released, it was promised not to be addictive, making it easier for those who

had it prescribed to get their fill, however, when lawmakers put regulations on it, its

accessibility became much more expensive. On the streets, one OxyContin pill is about $25,

whereas a balloon of heroin is only about $10. The significantly lower price has caused

heroin uses to double, or even quadruple in areas of Utah (Trimble). Both these drugs

produce similar highs, therefore making it even more convincing to switch to heroin from

prescription painkillers.
 The rise in heroin use in Utah has not gone unnoticed, it has had devastating effects that

change the lives of users and their families. Utah ranks 5th in the nation for deaths caused by

overdose (Aaron). The effects caused by heroin do not totally hinder the users ability to

function, making it difficult to tell when someone might be using. Meaning someone who has

overdosed, may not feel any different than usual, and those they are with may not be able to

tell what they had just done. Deaths have been on the rise too, 6 Utahans die each week due

to heroin overdoses (Romethel). Users often know the dangers of using, but cant, and often

times dont wish to stop using. Heroin is considered one of the most highly addictive, and

dangerous drugs in the world, often times making users think that quitting wouldnt be worth

it. Another alarming statistic from the Alpine Recovery Lodge states that from the years 2000-

2015 there has been a 400% increase in deaths from a misuse and abuse of drugs, just in Utah

alone. This large spike in use has largely increased the percentage of inmates in Utahs prisons

who are serving for drug related charges. Jailing those who have drug problems is not the way

to go about fixing this problem.

In 2015 there was a 62% increase in arrests related to illegal substances. With such a large

spike in use, and a large spike in arrest, it would be expected that use would eventually

decrease because the police are removing users and dealers from the streets. This is not the

case, you cannot cure someone of their addiction by sobriety. Only 1 in 10 users receives

treatment. (Rothemel). Treatment is not being taken away from the substance completely,

and forced to serve jail time. There are many recovery programs that have a much higher

success rate in curing addiction and keeping users clean than jail time does. Austin Davis, who is

a previous addict is now the director of the recovery program at First Step House. Which is an
organization dedicated to helping users clean up and stay that way. He says without First Step

House, he very well may have been dead. It is organizations like these that would be beneficial

to users.

The first step to fixing the problem lies in the treatment. Addicts cannot be seen as criminals

and horrendous people. That constant negativity will cause them to quickly return to using in

order to help ease the pain of such strong judgement. Overcoming addiction requires not just

time, but support, sympathy, assurance, and optimism in order to be successful. These addicts

have experienced the darkest times of their lives, selling belongings, stealing, doing whatever

they can just to be able to afford their next high. Putting them in jail does not show them the

brighter side to life, the things they go through on a daily basis are much worse than anything

they might experience while in jail. That is why treatment programs need to become a norm for

treating addicts. Being surrounded by those who have experienced what they have can provide

that assurance, as well as much needed empathy. Allowing them to be seen by loved ones

throughout the process can help them see the brighter sides of life, and what they have to look

forward to when they get clean. Addiction is not a crime, it is a disease, you cannot cure a

disease through isolation, and it requires special treatment.

The gradual yet sudden spike in heroin use in Utah can be due to its easy accessibility, and

its affordability. Increase in usage has not gone without its consequences, taking the lives of

Utahans on an almost daily basis. Having an effect on not only the users, but their friends and

relatives as well. As time passes the heroin problem only continues to get worse due to the

inability to treat those with an addiction. It is seen as a crime, and those who are caught are

taken to jail, where they serve their time only to return to their life of addiction and abuse.
Treating addicts through counseling and rehabilitation is the only way that Utah will see a

decrease in both the use of heroin, and the deaths caused by overdose.
 Bibliography
4 Utah Drug Abuse Statistics You Didn't Know. Alpine Recovery Lodge, 27 June 2017,
www.alpinerecoverylodge.com/utah-drug-abuse-statistics/.
Aaron, Rick. Heroin Tsunami Hitting Utah. GOOD4UTAH, GOOD4UTAH, 27 Feb. 2016,
www.good4utah.com/news/local-news/heroin-tsunami-hitting-utah/382799973.
Levinthal, Charles F., and Trevor Hamilton. Drugs, behaviour, and modern society. Toronto:
Pearson, 2016. Print.
Trimble, Ryan. Inside Heroin Addiction and Homelessness in Salt Lake City. Utah Stories, 16
Jan. 2017, utahstories.com/2017/01/heroin-addiction-salt-lake-city/.
Utah County Sees Alarming Spike in Heroin Use, Police Say. KSL.com,
www.ksl.com/?sid=29679407&nid=1171.
Watch Truth About Drugs Documentary Video & Learn About Substance Addiction. Get The
Facts About Painkillers, Marijuana, Cocaine, Meth & Other Illegal Drugs. Foundation for
a Drug-Free World, www.drugfreeworld.org/drugfacts/heroin.html.