Heroin Use On The Rise

Attached a link to an interesting article titled "As pill mills fade away, heroin fills the void" highlighting the emerging trend of heroin use among former Oxycontin abusers. I have noticed a similar uptick of heroin use among my patients seeking outpatient treatment. This is especially worrisome because heroin is cheaper and more potent than ever and it now spreads across all demographic and ethnic boundaries. We need to respond to this trend by developing and aggressive public education campaign about the dangers of heroin, introduction of needle exchange programs and promotion of outpatient treatment programs. Yours Bernd