By Kathryn Millán, MA, LPC/MHSP
Addiction has become a primary issue across the world. The United States is experiencing a drug crisis with the ongoing opioid addiction epidemic, meth addiction, alcoholism and drug-related crimes. Many people are talking about the culture of substance use in the US and debating what should be done to help aid recovery and abstinence efforts across the country.
The renewed debate about substance abuse and drug trafficking has led to some interesting new ideas. Let’s examine the issue as a whole and explore two new methods that are stirring up a buzz.
Is the Current US Model for Addiction Prevention Working?
In some ways, the United States has worked hard to combat drug use and trafficking. In 1971, the White House announced a campaign known as the War on Drugs. This campaign led to mandatory prison sentences for drug use, possession and sale. It set the foundation for the creation of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in 1973. Today, the DEA has a budget of over two billion dollars per year.1
Recent research has shown that these efforts may not be entirely effective. Is it possible that a greater understanding of the causes of substance use and addiction could eventually reshape the way we handle drug enforcement and treatment? Here are some recent statistics about substance use and trafficking in the US:
- Since 1990, the prices of illegal drugs have fallen, and illegal drug sales remain stronger than ever.2
- Illegal drugs found on the street have become stronger and more addictive. In fact, drug purity has increased by 60% for heroin, 11% for cocaine and a whopping 161% for cannabis since 1960.2
- It is very difficult to know the full scope of drug trafficking and abuse because people continue to take great pains to hide their activity. But it is widely understood that these issues continue to grow in the US and abroad, with an estimated $650-billion illegal drug market worldwide.2
- In 2014, over 1.4 million US citizens were arrested for drug use, yet very few of those people were ever given access to drug treatment.4,5
- Constant efforts to police drug activity without offering recovery, rehab or wellness initiatives has given strength to larger, more organized drug trafficking groups. These groups have the funding to fight court battles and then sell their products to hard-working people. The UN Office on Drugs and Crime has acknowledged this problem by stating: “Global drug control efforts have had a dramatic unintended consequence: a criminal black market of staggering proportions. Organized crime is a threat to security. Criminal organizations have the power to destabilize society and governments. The illicit drug business is worth billions of dollars a year, part of which is used to corrupt government officials and to poison economies.”5
New Approaches to Old Problems: Using Heroin Treatment as an Example
Heroin is a powerful example of an illegal drug. As stated earlier, heroin that is found today is usually about 60% stronger than heroin that was purchased in the 1960s. The latest studies in heroin use were released in January 2017, bringing grim news: fatal heroin overdoses more than quadrupled between 2010 and 2015. While more heroin is confiscated now than ever, the numbers continue to rise.6
Safe Injection Services
One new solution is known as “safe injection services.” Also known as “safe injection facilities,” these programs offer a clean, safe location for individuals to inject illegal drugs under direct medical supervision. People who participate in these programs are not arrested for their drug use while in the safe facility.7
The very idea of allowing individuals to use dangerous drugs without fear of arrest may make many readers uncomfortable. However, these programs have been available in Europe and Canada for some time and have been successful. They are now up for debate in the US.
The facilities themselves do not sell or distribute drugs, but they do offer clean needles, alcohol prep pads, medical supervision and overdose prevention measures. After visitors have used their chosen substance, they must wait in an aftercare room for some time before they leave. There, they have access to addiction treatment information and overdose treatment as needed. In fact, treatment for substance use disorders and mental health issues is highly encouraged in these facilities, all with an aim of reducing the stigma against addiction.
People who use intravenous drugs like heroin are at higher risk of blood-borne disease, such as HIV or Hepatitis C. People who inject drugs in the United States make up 23% of all women and 11% of all men who live with HIV. These programs aim to cut those numbers down.8
Heroin Maintenance Therapy
Another idea that has been tried and tested in Europe is known as “heroin maintenance therapy”. This unusual treatment is designed for individuals who have tried every other method of recovery, including methadone treatment. It seems unusual to give more heroin to someone who is already addicted, but if the individual agrees to enter a program of supervised use and gradually lowered doses, they may be able to recover more completely.
Britain recently completed a four-year study of heroin maintenance therapy. Participants had been addicted to heroin for some time and wished to stop using the dangerous drug. The trial was greatly successful and has resulted in the possibility of a more permanent, state-funded program. Researcher John Strang, leader of the program in Britain, stated, “It’s a less than perfect treatment, but for entrenched addicts, it gives them the first steps toward getting their life together. Some make a virtually complete recovery, but others, we get them from a bad place to a less bad place.”
No matter how you approach addiction treatment, the first step begins with learning more about your options. Skywood offers a dedicated team of recovery professionals that can help you learn more about treatment. Call us today.
1 “The War on Drugs.” History.com. Accessed August 9, 2017.
2 Werb D., et al. “The temporal relationship between drug supply indicators: an audit of international government surveillance systems.” BMJ Open , Volume 3, Issue 9, September 2013.
3 Hacken, J. Transnational Crime in the Developing World. Global Financial Integrity, February 2011.
4 Felbab-Brown, V. Counternarcotics Policy Overview: Global Trends & Strategies. Brookings Institution, October 2008.
5 Doward, J. “The UN’s war on drugs is a failure. Is it time for a different approach?” The Guardian, April 2, 2016.
6 “Heroin Overdose Data.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, January 26, 2017.
7 Thomson, A. “Fighting the Opioid Epidemic — By Allowing Drug Users to Shoot Up.” Mother Jones, July 3, 2017.
8 “Issue Brief: The Case for Supervised Consumption Services.” American Foundation for AIDS Research, June 14, 2017.
9 Faure, G. “Why Doctors Are Giving Heroin to Heroin Addicts.” Time, September 28, 2009.