Chasing Heroin Essay

Chasing heroin is a documentary giving us insight information on the rapidly growing pandemic of addictions to drugs, notably heroin. The heroin epidemic is rising at an alarming

rate and cities are struggling to find solutions. The CDC reports that 27,000 people die each year due to heroin overdoses. The jails are filled with offenders, that once released go out and use again continuing a cycle of insanity without producing answers. More youths experimenting with drugs are becoming addicted to meth and heroin and dying as a result. No one seemed to be paying any attention until it reached epidemic proportions, or as some has suggested, became "a white middle class problem" that surpassed the poor minority population.

The documentary

points to a company called Pharma Purdue, which seemed to have caused a momentum in drug addictions and deaths, after releasing a drug called Oxycontin (Oxycodone). It was originally pushed as a pain medication that was not as addictive as other pain medications. "Oxycontin was not really a new drug. The molecule has been around since 1916. What they did is, they took this old extinct drug, and they introduced a time release mechanism into it so that it would be significantly less addictive because it wouldn't be released upfront, all at once. That’s how they pitched it to the FDA" (Katherine Eban, Fortune).
Doctors began dispensing this to their patients at an alarming rate, to help with every pain known to man.

Once it had been discovered that despite the claims of Purdue , of less than 1 % of becoming addicted, people were becoming addicted and dying at an alarming rate. More restrictions were in place to keep Doctors from prescribing them to patients who were not seriously in need of them. Doctors would cut off people after they had already become addicted, and it unfortunately led those people to turn to other means to get it, even if it meant stealing, falsifying documents or trying to buy it on the streets. If they could not get Oxycontin, they turned to other drugs that would produce the same effects, drugs like heroin and meth, it was easier and cheaper to

get.
The documentary introduced us to real people, people that became addicted to prescription pain killers, heroin and meth. One of the teenagers named Marah Had ADHD and started to self medicate. She began with Oxycontin and then turned to Heroin. Marah was able to stay clean for a year and a half. When the intense desire of addiction could no longer be contained, Marah took what her boyfriend called a "hot shot", which was lethal and she died. According to the documentary more than 60% of heroin addicts lapse after the first year.

"When the middle class became the higher statistic for drug abuse, the politicians became more concerned and started to get proactive in the epidemic". (Keith Humphreys PHD, office of Natl. Drug control policy, 2009-10)

In a small town of Bremerton Mo. the epidemic became evident when the bathrooms were being clogged by used needles. Mayor Patty Lent had needle containers placed in all public bathrooms to try and keep the needles contained and not laying all over the town. "Needles were everywhere and laying in gutters….it used to be no one knew anyone on heroin then you knew 50 people that were on heroin" (Robert Parker, local business owner)

Methadone was discovered in the 1970's for pain but did not have the same devastating consequences of Heroin and meth. Therefore, Methadone clinics became an effective way to keep the addiction at bay. In addition, it kept people from committing crimes to fuel their addiction , helped them to keep their jobs but more importantly ,kept them from dying.
" One dose will get you through the day, without the need to inject 4 to 5 times a day with heroin, people could still function." (Scott Lindquist MO Health director Kitsap County, 2001-14)
The community of Bremerton began to fight back against the Methadone Clinics. They were uneducated and fearful of what those clinics would mean for the community. Some people were willing to testify before City Council of how the clinic helped to change their life, but despite their efforts, in 2011 the council put a halt to the Methadone Clinic. Sadly shortly after the clinic closed, as a result more than 40 people in Kitsap County died of a drug overdose. Drug Courts began to surface in Seattle to force addicts into rehab or therapy, instead of jail time. Michael Botticelli, found himself in Drug Court after he was in an accident from being intoxicated. He said that it saved his life, and he wanted to make Drug Courts a priority. "Punitive responsive with substance abuse disorders is ineffective, inhumane and costly."(Michael Botticelli Office of Watle, Drug Control Policy) Some people would complain that Drug Courts, but some could counter isn't jail time harsh? Unfortunately about half fail through the Drug Courts. " Drug court stood alone for 20 years, as our one answer but in reality it doesn't answer the question of people who are so addicted, homeless, mentally ill and who can't keep court appointed appointments, who we know are going to fail drug court" (Dan Satterberg, king county Prosecutor. Arty)

Seattle Washington starting exploring new "police models" by giving law enforcement different ways of handling the addiction crisis. Instead of police arresting offenders, they stopped them by taking the drugs away and offering counseling and support for becoming clean. The city started a program called Lead. There are over 300 addicts in the Lead program. Lead starts with relationship building, and they wait until the addict is ready to get clean, they do not force them to quickly make that choice. They advocate for harm reduction, if possible.
Lisa Duggart a public defender became a voice for the minority who seemed to be arrested more often than the white population. She wanted to work with the Police department to find more humane ways to deal with addiction other than send people to jail, after all they would just return to their addiction once their sentence was over. Lisa sat down with the Prosecuting Attorney, who was once in the position of sending addicts to jail, had a change of heart and they both agreed that other options would serve the addicts and the community with more promising results. When asked why he changed his mind, he said " There's an old saying just because wisdom is slow to arrive doesn't mean you reject it when it does" ( Dan Satterberg, King County Prosecutor, ATTY)

Washington evaluated a 4 year study on the experiment and discovered that there was a 58% lower incident of those being arrested for crimes involving drug addiction. The program
followed two people one named Kristina and the other named Jonnie. Kristina was able to find
a way to become clean but had to end up in a health crisis to do so. Jonnie lapsed in his recovery, but went back to staying clean.
Other than Methadone as a deterrent to Heron Suboxone is a promising less harsh drug but it is limited by the federal government as to how much can be dispensed at any given year. Regardless of the fact that the CDC reports a rise in overdose deaths by 14% our attitudes of addiction is standing in our way to fully comprehend that these new drugs will be able to secure a better success rate for those who are trying to become clean.

In summary, the documentary on Chasing Heroin was powerful and heartbreaking.

There are many reasons why people become addicted to drugs. It could have started as innocently as trying to get relief from pain. Does it seem reasonable to punish people after the pharmaceutical companies created the epidemic of pain killer addiction while lining their pockets with enormous revenues at the expense of human life? One cannot blame all addictions on the pharmaceutical companies however; they are a huge contributor to the epidemic. Some people reject the idea of giving Methadone and Suboxone as a way to combat the addiction, but clearly based on this documentary it is helping. Until they have a loved one addicted they will never understand that whatever it takes to get the addict clean is the goal to save lives instead of clinging on to old ideas that are not working. The documentary was heartbreaking and was difficult at times to watch. It does not make any sense that we have the answer at our fingertips but our refusal to get rid of the mindset of weakness in an addict and not one of illness that requires at times medication for the sever addict with no other options available to them, it just simply means that we are not fully educated about what addiction is and it Is time that we do. Dragging the afflicted to jail, making them inter a treatment program sounds fundamentally good, but it is not working. Treating with Methadone and Suboxone seem to be at least a better

answer for now, until we find a better solution.