Addiction
One aspect of the problem is how addiction is viewed and the limited support addicts have access to. Most people have a certain perception about addicts and generally believe it’s the result of their own actions, though it may be true (as we'll see later) in certain cases it isn’t always the result of the user’s own actions. Not all individuals who start using heroin do it as a result of experimentation, in fact a large number start using opioids because they have been prescribed opioid drugs for a certain medical condition, serious or not serious. In a documentary called Fault Lines by Al Jazeera America, a man interviews a group of heroin addicts, during an interview he asks how many people started off using prescription opioids before they moved onto heroin. The results are startling, the entire group of 7 raised their hands. One recent study found that 4 in 5 heroin users previously abused prescription opioids. In the last 15 years, at least 100,000 people have died from prescription opioid abuse. Obviously many of the individuals addicted realize it’s a problem but many of them just don’t have the resources to battle their addiction and recover.
But there's also another side to consider. For example let's look at a story of the girlfriend of a heroin addict. She says how “Thinking back on how awful he treated me while he was using - makes me sick. Every day he lied and manipulated me. Borrowing money, for things such as ‘gas, bills, car repairs, cigarettes, etc’ because he had lost a lot of hours at work and was low on money. And then finding out - all the money I gave him was used towards buying dope. It makes me sick”. The addiction not only ruins the lives of the users but it also puts emotional and financial strain on family and friends. It effects family and friends because individuals that are addicted will go to great lengths to get the drug. Individuals that are physically dependent on the drug have a hard time going without and this leads to stealing and lying to get their way. It has been found that drugs and crime are interrelated, as demonstrated by research studies conducted by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), a research branch of the U.S. Department of Justice. The NIJ has found that drug addicts have a stronger tendency to commit crimes. Addicts need money to finance their drug habits. In their desperation to get a drug ‘fix,’ they may commit petty crimes. Often, smaller crimes can lead to bigger ones. There needs to be a way to deal with the behaviors that come with addiction while helping them recover and preventing them to damaging relationships with family and friends.
But there's also another side to consider. For example let's look at a story of the girlfriend of a heroin addict. She says how “Thinking back on how awful he treated me while he was using - makes me sick. Every day he lied and manipulated me. Borrowing money, for things such as ‘gas, bills, car repairs, cigarettes, etc’ because he had lost a lot of hours at work and was low on money. And then finding out - all the money I gave him was used towards buying dope. It makes me sick”. The addiction not only ruins the lives of the users but it also puts emotional and financial strain on family and friends. It effects family and friends because individuals that are addicted will go to great lengths to get the drug. Individuals that are physically dependent on the drug have a hard time going without and this leads to stealing and lying to get their way. It has been found that drugs and crime are interrelated, as demonstrated by research studies conducted by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), a research branch of the U.S. Department of Justice. The NIJ has found that drug addicts have a stronger tendency to commit crimes. Addicts need money to finance their drug habits. In their desperation to get a drug ‘fix,’ they may commit petty crimes. Often, smaller crimes can lead to bigger ones. There needs to be a way to deal with the behaviors that come with addiction while helping them recover and preventing them to damaging relationships with family and friends.