Perrinato, John. Opioids: Heroin, OxyContin, and Painkillers. Part of the Drug Addiction and Recovery series. 2017. 64p. ISBN 978-1-4222-3607-9. Available at 615.78 PER on the library shelves.
Over the last several years, no health crisis has impacted New Hampshire more than the opioid epidemic. Ravaging every demographic group in the state, this plague has caused countless deaths, numerous overdoses that have required treatment in hospitals, and affected many families that in the past would not have encountered drug abuse. Several discussions have taken place around the state on how to solve this epidemy, but to address the issue it is important to know the origins of this crisis.
Unlike other drugs, such as cocaine and marijuana, most people who are addicted to opioids got there through injuries and accidents when they were prescribed painkillers. This medicine, designed to block pain receptors in the brain, also provided an increase level of euphoria and quickly led to dependence. Most people are able to end their treatment once the pain has subsided, but some become addicted to the benefits they perceive from opioids. When prescription medication ends, they obtain extensions. When unable to do so, they switch to purchasing them illegally, but the high price often lead addicts to jump to heroin, another opioid which happens to be cheaper. The rise of fentanyl and other related drugs have only compounded this epidemic.
Opioids: Heroin, OxyContin, and Painkillers describes how opioids were first discovered and used. A history of treatment is also presented, along with ways to prevent addiction for individuals using pain medicine. What was once considered a criminal behavior is now better understood to be a disease that can be treated, if not cured, but that efforts on the part of individuals and better treatment options on the part of society will be necessary to eliminate needless deaths and social destruction that occur throughout the United States every day.
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