Does anyone know what the overdose rate is of heroin compared to other drugs? What is it about heroin that makes it so easy to overdose? I am totally clueless about it. I just know so many young people around me are dying from heroin overdose. I live in a very religious community so anytime a young adult overdoses the particulars are kept "hush hush". Parents usually just say that they "died unexpectedly in their sleep" when really they died from a heroin overdose. Any info and insight is greatly appreciated.
87.9% of them die as a result of using the drug. All deaths aren't from overdose. Some include homicide, suicide, disease, and accidents such as walking in the road, jumping off buildings, swimming to the bottom of the ocean, tobacco poisoning, rat bites, and mating with spiders.
I am a heroin addict and a lot of people I know who use too have ODed. That is because most of them take benzos or are drunk when they shoot up which is very risky. When you shoot heroin it already lowers your heart rate and breathing, but if you are drunk or on benzos too then it lowers it even more. The thing is that in most cases they will rule it as a heroin overdose even if there were other downers in their system.
I feel like a lot of people don't take this into consideration. All drug related deaths are not necessarily OD's.
I have read that many users overdose after staying clean for a while. They usually relapse and use the same dosage they used at the height of their addiction, but without the tolerance. I'd be interested to know just how many people die each year as a result of using heroin, this kind of information should be widely available to deter people from this dangerous substance.
Yeah, I have been about five different times now. A couple detox places (phych hospitals), 30day inpatients, and sober living. And then outpatient methadone and suboxone clinics.
@Matthodge1 so inpatient at a phych facility is pretty interesting if you are just there for substance abuse. One place I have been to does not seperate the hardcore mental illness patients from the substance abuse. While at the other inpatient I went to did, which I think is a lot better when I am detoxing. There would be patients screaming, running, getting restrained, and whatnot while I am trying to get the little sleep that I can (when I detox I can never sleep, I'll go like 3 days with just 30 minutes of sleep) so it is super frustrating. But treatment wise, it is really good. Each day we would go to education groups, process groups, recreational therapy, and on some days they would have pet therapy. I really like inpatient because you have no responsibilities and are really able to focus on yourself and getting better. 30day residental treatment is pretty much the same thing, except for the fact that they are strictly addiction. Outpatient I find helpful because it eases you into real life. You go to all of the outpatient groups, but you don't stay there 24/7. The methadone clinic is interesting. I would have to go every morning, and you pay $11/day. There was always a crazy long line, and you just had to wait until it was your turn to walk up to the nurses window and then you could dose in front of them. We would have a counselor there, and would have a meeting with them once a month. They were super sweet, but they weren't helpful really. I hope that answered your question!!
Thank you for enlightening m, @Danyell. The running and screaming thing sounds awful. How'd you cope with it?
87.9% which is not even caused by overdose is seriously concerning me. I tried heroin once, too, but didn't really feel or seen anything special except that dreaming sensation. I don't know what people experience so much whilst "plugged-in", but I for one can't comprehend.
You are very welcome! Oh it was terrible. Well since I couldn't sleep regardless, I decided to make the best of it and view it as entertainment. Haha. I personally, don't mind going to inpatient treatments because most of us who are in there can all relate. It is really cool to be able to talk about things that are going on with us that other people who don't have depression, suicidal thoughts/attempts, or substance abuse problems wouldn't fully understand.
I am a heroin addict as well. A lot of people I have known have died as well due to mixing benzos, but also I see people increasing the amount of their usage. I use daily....if possible small amounts to just keep myself from being sick. But I know a lot of people who want that HIGH and will use more and more. I know that may seem normal, but when I say use more, I mean they will go way ABOVE their tolerance knowing it's too much and may be their last time using. It just scares me watching these people. I've seen more deaths than I care to. I just wish it would all go away and we could all recover and be done!!
Here are the pieces of information I've gleaned from authoritative agencies: More than 8,000 deaths in the US were attributed to heroin overdose between 2001 and 2013, according to the drugabuse.gov. A report published in the Washington Post claimed that "the death rate grew from 1 for every 100,000 people in 2010 to 2.7 for every 100,000 in 2013, after rising much more slowly over the previous 10 years." There was a total of 43,982 drug overdose deaths in 2013, 16,235 of which involved opioid drugs. 8,257 of the deaths were charged to heroin overdose.
Sometimes they overdose using the same dosage even without having quit it before. Such incidences are explained by the state dependent theory. Basically, the body is accustomed to a specific dosage in a certain environment. When the environment is changed for some reason tolerance to the drug decreases. The person takes the same amount they're used to but in a new area, and they often overdose.
I am a heroin addict and I would have to say that this is probably because different areas have different dope. Where I am from we only get tar while in other cities and states they only get powder. The quality can be extremely different as well. Not saying that IV heroin use is not dangerous at all, but there is harm reduction and ways to be smart about it.
I mean even with the same source of heroin this can happen. It's a psychological phenomenon. Another example of this but not heroin related is where you study for a test. If you study that week in the room in which you'll be taking the test then you'll do better in contrast to studying at home.