Heroin use exploding in Shasta County
By Joe Szydlowski, Redding Record Searchlight, Calif. | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
This article was produced as a project for The California Endowment Health Journalism Fellowships, a program of the
For
In 2009, he plummeted 100 feet and was flown to a
In matter of months, he was living under the
"I would steal for it, I would lie for it," Erickson said. "Right
He is one of many
A YOUNGER CLIENTELE
Heroin's use in
Hard statistics of just how many
In 2008, 50 Shasta County Medi-Cal patients entered treatment for heroin, with an additional 29 saying it was their main drug. By 2013, those numbers had jumped to 218 and to 181, respectively.
By 2013, heroin was the main drug in 15.3 percent of admissions, ranking third behind meth and alcohol.
In the same period, heroin went from causing four visits to
The
But heroin has made major inroads into the community, he said, mainly among young people.
Even in
The methadone clinic in
About 18 percent of its current patients live in a ZIP code in
"We have certainly seen the number of patients in our
He said the methadone clinic in
Most of the heroin addicts entering Visions of the Cross in
'HELL ON EARTH'
Professionals trace the root cause of the heroin epidemic to prescription painkillers, such as Vicodin.
Some people began by abusing the drugs recreationally, sometimes as early as when they're in high school. Others received a prescription that expired and they can't get refills.
Those using the painkillers recreationally have also been priced out on the streets as prices rise. Recently reformed chemical formulas mean they have to take more prescription pills to get high.
"Nearly half of young people who inject heroin surveyed in three recent studies reported abusing prescription opioids before starting to use heroin," states the
In
"People do sell dime bags now," he said. How long that lasts for individual users depends on factors such as a person's weight and tolerance to opiates, though
Edmonds said heroin has become so ubiquitous in
Many users start off smoking heroin, which removes much of the stigma of the hard drug for younger people, she said.
"If they smoke cigarettes and smoke pot, smoking heroin (doesn't seem) like a big deal" to them, Edmonds said.
Most of those entering
At first, each hit of heroin gives the user a euphoric rush. Eventually the pleasure disappears. For Erickson, heroin's pleasurable effects lasted about six months before he no longer felt high -- instead, he needed it to feel normal.
At that point, to avoid withdrawal, he started to steal. "You're doing what you need to do to procure the drug," he said.
Without the drug, he would feel the symptoms of withdrawal -- insomnia, cramps, depression, pain in the joints, nausea, vomiting and the "worst case of restless leg," Erickson said.
"You feel like the whole world is closing in on you," he said, describing it as "hell on earth."
Fuentes said heroin users have between four to six hours after taking a hit before withdrawal begins. Withdrawal symptoms can last days.
ADDICTION FUELS CRIME
Heroin users will do whatever it takes to keep from going into withdrawal, said police Sgt. James. That means turning to property crimes, though some keep up appearances of a normal life at first, similar to a so-called "functioning alcoholic," he said.
"Some go from here to straight down," he said. "A lot of people kind of slowly, gradually sink."
Property crimes fell from 2012 to 2013, but rose back to 2012 levels in
Like methamphetamine users, heroin users turn to property crimes to fuel their addiction. There are, however, differences, Edmonds said.
"Major crimes are the result of meth, these people are ruthless," she said. "Heroin addicts will steal, but they are more subdued."
Erickson turned to crime to fuel his habit -- in some cases he would fish receipts out of trash cans, steal the most expensive item on the list and return it, pocketing the cash or store credit for drugs, he said.
Breaking into parked cars is also a common tactic, he said.
Those arrested for heroin possession or being under the influence of drugs or alcohol typically don't stay incarcerated at the jail. When brought into the jail, they are examined by a medical professional, said Lt.
Medical staff supervise individuals who are impaired or undergoing withdrawal while in custody, he said. They also manage inmates' withdrawal, with twice daily checks, he said.
"While here, they get proper medical treatment for the state they're in," he said.
A VOLATILE COCKTAIL
While heroin's popularity has grown, other drug problems haven't necessarily receded, said James, of the
Among the 36 total methamphetamine and heroin overdoses in 2013 at
Speedball users may be trying to balance out the effects, but that doesn't take place, said Fuentes of
Fuentes described the forces that may lead to heroin abuse. Drug use in general often pairs with mental illness, he said. Heroin's pleasurable effects can cover up symptoms of depression, anxiety and other mental illnesses temporarily, he said. As they use, tolerance builds. Eventually they, like other users, begin taking the drugs to feel normal, he said.
Poverty, family history and previous substance use also present major risk factors in drug use, Fuentes said. Middle class users have more money and resources to seek rehab services, he said.
TREATMENT OPTIONS
Treatment options vary between outpatient and residential care, but many involve one of two replacements for heroin -- suboxone and methadone.
Suboxone is a mixture of buprenorphrine, a mild opioid, and naltrexone, a drug that blocks opiates' effects. Methadone is another opioid used to supplant the heroin without providing the high.
Dodd, head of the company that runs the
"What the insulin does is it stabilizes the diabetic, so they can get on with their lives and lead a better life with diet and exercise so one day they no longer have to take the (insulin)," he said. "Addiction is a disease, and it can be treated as a disease. ... What methadone does is it stabilizes the patient, satisfies the brain's need for opiate painkillers so they don't suffer withdrawal symptoms. When they're stable, they can then be responsive to individual counseling and therapy."
Similar to diabetes, some longtime users may be in methadone treatment for the rest of their life, he said.
Such therapies, however, have many restrictions. Dodd said methadone must be obtained daily by most patients.
Suboxone, a mild narcotic, is also used at
"You're going to have much higher success," he said.
They also must be enrolled in counseling and therapy to help change their behaviors and attitudes, he said. Therapy helps address why they started using in the first place.
Erickson said therapy also showed him he wasn't alone in his heroin addiction.
Only about 10 percent to 20 percent of addicts in general succeed on their first try for recovery, said
For Erickson, the straight and narrow is the clear path.
"When I have urges, I talk with a higher power, I also speak with my sponsor," he said. "I don't want to go back to that cycle."
Signs of heroin use
Heroin gives you a feeling of well-being and happiness. It also makes you feel like the world has slowed down. People on heroin think slowly and might move slowly.
Heroin makes people feel sleepy, like they're in a dream. They may have slow or slurred speech, and suffer from sluggishness, listlessness or constant sleeping.
Heroin makes the pupils (the black circle in the center of each eye) get very small.
A person who injects heroin will have marks on the skin where the needle went in.
People who are trying to quit taking heroin might have pain in muscles and bones, get chills, vomit, be unable to sleep and feel nervous.
Source:
Treatment programs in
PRIVATE OPTIONS
Empire Outpatient Services
Accepts
Men's program:
Women's program:
Faith-based, no-cost residential program
Right Road Recovery Program
Accepts
Visions of the Cross
Faith-based, accepts
1 (877) 669-1669
GOVERNMENT SERVICES
Serves CalWORKs participants
Serves pregnant and parenting moms; accepts
OTHER SERVICES
2885 Churn Creek Road Suite A,
Accepts most insurance; does not accept
Co-pay or free of charge; veterans only
DUI program; does not accept
Wright Education Services
www.wrighteducationservices.com
DUI program; does not accept
Source:
Mobile users can access the database here: http://www.redding.com/databases/heroin.
App users, click here to see the heroin database
Heroin & Shasta County
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