Heroin use in US
A recent study examined changes in heroin use and addiction among US adults over 16 years. Heroin use disorder increased significantly between 2002 and 2018, affecting approximately 800,000 adults in the country.
Heroin
Articles tagged with Heroin
Regional trends in overdose deaths reveal multiple opioid epidemics, according to new study
The US is experiencing several simultaneous opioid epidemics, including prescription drug, heroin, synthetic opioids, and a syndemic in counties where the crisis first erupted. These distinct challenges require varied policy responses.
People who qualify for Medicare due to disability account for most opioid-related deaths
Patients qualifying for Medicare due to disability have the highest rates of opioid overdose deaths. The majority of these deaths occur among individuals with substance misuse or psychiatric diseases, highlighting the need for targeted treatment programs.
Study reveals urban hotspots of high-schoolers' opioid abuse
A new study found that certain urban areas have significantly higher rates of heroin use among high school students, with Latina and white girls in Duval County, Florida, showing the highest figures for non-medical prescription opioid misuse. The findings underscore the need for tailored services to address adolescent opioid abuse.
State prescription drug monitoring programs: The rise and fall in heroin fatalities
A study found a consistent association between state Prescription Drug Monitoring program adoption and death rates from heroin poisoning. States with Proactive PDMPs reported a 6% reduction in heroin poisoning mortality by the third year.
Fingerprint test can distinguish between those who have taken or handled heroin
A state-of-the-art fingerprint detection technology can identify traces of heroin on human skin, even after washing hands. The technology also tells whether an individual has used the drug or shaken hands with someone who has handled it.
Confronting opioids, researchers to test neighborhood interventions, fentanyl test strips
Brown University researchers are testing neighborhood-based intervention strategies and fentanyl test strips to combat the opioid epidemic. The PROVIDENT project aims to predict which neighborhoods are most at risk for opioid overdoses and deliver targeted interventions. Meanwhile, the RAPIDS project evaluates the effectiveness of fent...
Fentanyl's risk on the 'darknet'
US overdose deaths attributed to synthetic opioids like fentanyl have surged, with purchases often made on the darknet. Fentanyl prices plummeted by 50% between 2014 and 2016, making it nearly twice as deadly as heroin.
New national guideline sets out best practices for delivering injectable opioid agonist treatment
The new national guideline provides evidence-based treatment options for people with severe opioid use disorder, including injectable opioid agonist treatment with prescription heroin and hydromorphone. The guideline aims to reduce overdose deaths by supporting health care providers in delivering life-saving treatments.
A safer way for police to test drug evidence
A new technique allows police to analyze exterior packaging of suspected drug bags for safe handling, reducing accidental exposure to fentanyl. The method involves swiping the outside of a baggie and analyzing it for drugs using DART-MS.
Most-comprehensive analysis of fentanyl crisis urges innovative action
A RAND Corporation study highlights the need for innovative approaches to address the fentanyl crisis, which has worsened dramatically with tens of thousands of deaths annually. The study suggests that supply disruption, creative supply-side strategies, and increased access to novel treatments are crucial in reversing the tide.
Spending on illicit drugs in US nears $150 billion annually
A new RAND Corporation report estimates that US spending on cannabis, cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine reached nearly $150 billion in 2016. The market for cannabis is roughly the size of the cocaine and methamphetamine markets combined, with total spending fluctuating between $120 billion and $145 billion each year.
What to call someone who uses heroin?
A study by Boston University School of Medicine researchers found that people entering treatment for heroin use prefer being called
Is nonmedical opioid use by adolescents associated with later risk of heroin use?
A study found that adolescents who non-medically used prescription opioids were more likely to develop a heroin use disorder. The study analyzed data from over 10,000 students and discovered a significant association between early opioid use and later heroin use.
Teens abusing painkillers are more likely to later use heroin
A USC study tracked prescription opioid and heroin use in teens over time, finding that those who used painkillers to get high were more likely to start using heroin by high school graduation. The study suggests a link between nonmedical opioid use and later heroin use among youth.
Safe consumption spaces would be welcomed by high-risk opioid users
A large majority of people who use heroin and fentanyl are willing to use safe consumption spaces where they can obtain sterile syringes and medical support in case of overdose. The study found that 77% of participants reported a willingness to use such spaces, with higher rates among those who rely on public spaces.
CBD reduces craving and anxiety in people with heroin use disorder
A study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry found that CBD significantly reduced craving and anxiety induced by drug cues in individuals with heroin use disorder. The study also revealed that CBD tended to reduce physiological measures of stress reactivity, such as increased heart rate and cortisol levels.
Fentanyl deaths up 122% in West Virginia, say WVU researchers
A recent study found that fentanyl-related deaths in West Virginia increased by 122% between 2015 and 2017, despite a decline in prescription opioid deaths. The surge in fentanyl deaths is attributed to illegal imports from China and the potency of the drug itself.
Surgical implications of rising heroin abuse
The article discusses the rising trend of heroin abuse in the US, which has led to an increase in surgical complications such as skin and soft tissue infections, septic thrombophlebitis, and mycotic pseudoaneurysms. Rapid recognition and management of these complications are crucial to prevent life-threatening outcomes.
Heroin users aware of fentanyl, but at high risk of overdosing
A survey of heroin users in Baltimore found that while most recognize the presence of fentanyl, they are not adequately prepared to prevent or treat overdoses. Many users reported injecting alone and lacked access to naloxone, a lifesaving medication that can reverse overdose symptoms.
Opioid epidemic fueling a rise in infection-related stroke
Researchers found a significant increase in infection-related stroke hospitalizations from 1993 to 2015, with the greatest increases seen in women and young people. The study suggests that addressing the opioid epidemic is crucial in reducing this public health problem.
Firsthand accounts indicate fentanyl test strips are effective in reducing overdose risk
A Brown University study found that fentanyl test strips are effective in reducing overdose risk, with participants using them to test suspicious drug supplies and testing residue at home due to perceived stigma. The test strips also helped participants change their behavior to reduce overdose risk if they detected fentanyl.
Demi Lovato's overdose causes surge in media, but few mentions of lifesaving hotline
A new study found that despite high engagement with media coverage of Demi Lovato's overdose, few Americans mentioned the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) national helpline. The study analyzed news reports, tweets, and searches following Lovato's hospitalization in 2018 and Anthony Bourdain's suicide i...
VCU researchers test effectiveness of anti-opioid vaccine
Researchers at VCU are testing a vaccine that blocks heroin and fentanyl effects in patients with opioid use disorder. The vaccine prompts the immune system to generate anti-opioid antibodies, preventing drug molecules from crossing the blood brain barrier.
Drug wholesalers drove fentanyl's deadly rise, report concludes
A recent report by researchers at UC San Francisco suggests that fentanyl's deadly spread is largely driven by the economic imperatives of suppliers, rather than demand from users. The report found that fentanyl's cheap and plentiful availability in wholesale markets following heroin supply shocks contributed to its rise.
Dopamine drives early addiction to heroin
Scientists have made a major advance in understanding how heroin addiction develops by studying the brain circuits that lead to its powerful addictive effects. The discovery of dopamine neurons' role in reinforcing heroin's effects could help refine addiction treatment and develop less addictive painkillers.
Heroin vaccine technology advances as researchers are awarded grant for further testing
Researchers at U.S. Military HIV Research Program (MHRP) advance experimental heroin vaccine through Phase I/IIa clinical trials. The vaccine aims to block the euphoria and addictive effects of heroin by binding it in the blood, potentially giving people a window to overcome addiction.
Why don't we understand statistics? Fixed mindsets may be to blame
A study found that fixed mindsets can lead to difficulties in solving statistical problems, even when simpler solutions are available. The researchers suggest that a lack of education in natural frequencies may be the cause, and hope to encourage curriculum designers to incorporate this concept into school mathematics and statistics.
Quest Diagnostics Health Trends™ study finds drug misuse rates remain constant at high levels, and dangerous opioid-related drug combining is prevalent
The study found that more than half of Americans misused their prescription drugs in 2017, with a surge in heroin and fentanyl misuse among patients with substance use disorders. The report also highlights the growing trend of gabapentin misuse and dangerous opioid combinations.
High schoolers who use heroin commonly use multiple other drugs
A study by NYU's Center for Drug Use and HIV/HCV Research found that high school seniors using heroin also commonly use multiple other drugs, with an average of five others. The researchers discovered a link between frequent heroin use and increased use of opioids and benzodiazepines.
Prescription drug monitoring programs may have negative unintended consequences
A study by Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health found that prescription drug monitoring programs may not reduce fatal overdoses as expected, but instead linked to an increase in heroin overdose deaths after restrictions on opioid prescribing were implemented.
Rapid increase of synthetic opioids involved in drug overdose deaths
In a recent study published in JAMA Network, synthetic opioids were found to be involved in 45.9% of opioid-related deaths in 2016, up from 14.3% in 2010. The study highlights the growing threat of synthetic opioids, particularly fentanyl, and their increasing role in overdose deaths
Research brief: Vaccines to treat opioid abuse and prevent fatal overdoses
Researchers have developed vaccines against heroin and prescription opioids that target the brain's opioid receptors, preventing addiction-relevant behaviors. The vaccines appear safe and effective in blocking opioid distribution to the brain, potentially helping prevent fatal overdoses.
Frequent, public drug users may be good candidates for overdose-treatment training
A new study from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that frequent public drug users who witness more overdoses are likely to be good candidates for naloxone training. These users tend to engage in riskier drug use and use drugs in a wider range of settings.
Opioid abuse leads to heroin use and a hepatitis C epidemic, USC researcher says
A recent study by USC researchers found that nearly everyone who used heroin transitioned to drug injection in about six months, contributing to the hepatitis C epidemic. The trend is largely driven by heroin's potency and affordability, making it a more attractive alternative to opioids.
Heroin vaccine blocks lethal overdose
Researchers at Scripps Research Institute have created a safe and effective vaccine to block heroin's lethal effects, using an adjuvant already approved by the FDA. The vaccine, which is stable at room temperature for up to 30 days, shows promise in treating heroin addiction and preventing overdose deaths.
New vaccine technology shows promise as a tool to combat the opioid crisis
Researchers developed an experimental heroin vaccine that induces antibodies blocking the drug's effects, preventing euphoria and addictive properties. The vaccine appears to dampen the impact of heroin at high doses, potentially preventing overdose. Antibodies induced by the vaccine do not cross-react with therapies for opioid misuse.
Four-fold jump in deaths in opioid-driven hospitalizations
Opioid-related hospitalizations have a four-fold higher mortality rate than in 2000, with deadlier conditions like heroin poisoning on the rise.
Researchers identify information gaps about opioid antidote naloxone
A systematic review of evidence reveals important gaps in knowledge about the safety and effectiveness of widespread off-label use of naloxone among patients, families, friends, and emergency responders. The study found that the majority of naloxone being administered nasally is probably the non-approved formulation, but little is know...
Baby-boomers and millennials more afflicted by the opioid epidemic
A recent study at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health found that baby-boomers and millennials are disproportionately affected by the opioid epidemic. The study analyzed data from 1999 to 2014 and found that these age groups experienced a significantly increased risk of death from prescription opioid overdose and heroi...
Swortwood to investigate prevalence of synthetic opioids in saliva
Researchers aim to detect synthetic opioids, heroin, and a heroin substitute in saliva samples from inmates, arrestees, and DUI suspects. This study could save time and money by using a single sample for multiple drug tests.
New method could help disrupt opioid crisis
Researchers have developed a new method to track the origin of individual batches of heroin, potentially aiding in the disruption of the opioid crisis. By analyzing the ratio of radiogenic strontium isotopes, they can differentiate samples from different geographic regions.
Hospital discharges for prescription opioids down, heroin discharges surge
A recent study led by Stanford Medicine researchers found a significant decrease in hospital admissions for prescription opioid overdoses, but an increase in heroin and synthetic opioid poisonings. This shift suggests that individuals misusing or addicted to prescription opioids are switching to these alternative drugs.
Medicaid patients continue high prescription opioid use after overdose
Despite receiving medical attention for an overdose, Medicaid patients in Pennsylvania continued to have high prescription opioid use. Medication-assisted treatment increased after the overdose event, but overall opioid prescribing and duration of use decreased.
New vaccine could someday fight the effects of opioid combinations
Researchers have made progress toward a vaccine against fentanyl and heroin combinations, showing efficacy in monkeys. The vaccine stimulates production of antibodies that bind to the heroin molecule itself and prevent it from reaching the opioid receptor.
New study generates more accurate estimates of state opioid and heroin fatalities
A new study refines death certificate data to provide more accurate estimates of opioid and heroin fatalities, resulting in significant shifts in state-by-state mortality rates. The corrected rates show a 24% higher national growth rate for opioids and a 22% higher rate for heroin.
Heroin's use rising, costing society more than $51 billion
A new study estimates that heroin users have a significant impact on society due to premature death, lost productivity, and chronic infectious diseases. Heroin use was estimated to cost US society over $51 billion in 2015, with the cost per user exceeding $50,799 per year.
Feared by drug users but hard to avoid, fentanyl takes a mounting toll
A study by Brown University researchers finds that fentanyl is responsible for the majority of Rhode Island's drug overdose deaths. Despite widespread aversion to its potency, users often can't avoid it due to contamination of the heroin supply.
TSRI anti-heroin vaccine found effective in non-human primates
The TSRI anti-heroin vaccine has been shown to neutralize heroin and its psychoactive products, blocking them from reaching the brain to cause a feeling of euphoria. Researchers believe this could help eliminate motivation for relapse in recovering addicts.
Combining heroin and commonly prescribed non-opioid pain killers leads to a significant rise in overdose deaths
A recent study found a substantial correlation between increased prescriptions for pregabalin and gabapentin and rising overdose deaths. These drugs have become abuse-prone when used with heroin or other opioids, especially due to their association with feelings of loss of control and enhanced heroin effects.
Fentanyl can sicken first responders. Here's a possible solution.
NIST researchers have developed Ion Mobility Spectrometry (IMS) and Direct Analysis in Real Time Mass Spectrometry (DART-MS) technologies to detect fentanyl in unknown powders. These techniques can identify the lowest concentrations of fentanyl mixtures, allowing law enforcement officers to take extra precautions.
Prevalence of heroin use rises in decade, greatest increase among whites
The prevalence of heroin use increased by 87% among white individuals from 2001-2002 to 2012-2013. Nonmedical prescription opioid use preceding heroin initiation also rose among white users only, highlighting a link between the two.
Heroin use rises significantly among young whites
Heroin use has increased five-fold among Americans since 2001, with significant rises in white males with low income and education. The prevalence of heroin use disorder also increased, particularly among younger individuals, with whites ages 18-44 experiencing a more pronounced increase than non-whites and older adults.
Epigenetic alteration a promising new drug target for heroin use disorder
Research at The Mount Sinai Hospital found excessive histone acetylation in heroin users, leading to increased gene expression and addiction behavior. Treatment with JQ1 reduced heroin self-administration and drug-seeking behavior, suggesting potential therapeutic benefits.
Epigenetic alteration a promising new drug target for heroin use disorder
A new study found that heroin use is associated with excessive histone acetylation, a process that regulates gene expression. The study suggests that JQ1 and similar compounds might be beneficial for long-term heroin users in reducing drug-seeking behavior.
From heroin addiction to alcohol-related problems
Long-term opioid substitution therapy reduces heroin and cocaine consumption among patients with heroin addiction. However, frequent alcohol consumption among these patients has increased, posing a significant health risk due to liver infections like hepatitis B and C.
Growing number of teens think getting heroin is 'probably impossible'
A Saint Louis University study found nearly 50% of adolescents thought it was 'probably impossible' to acquire heroin in 2014, compared to 39% in 2002. The number of teens who believed it was easy or very easy to get heroin also declined between 2002 and 2014.
TSRI scientists show deep brain stimulation blocks heroin relapse in rats
TSRI scientists found that deep brain stimulation (DBS) reduces the compulsion to use heroin in rat models of addiction. DBS-treated rats kept their heroin intake stable at a low level, even after abstinence periods, whereas control rats escalated their intake.
Among veterans, painkiller misuse strongly linked to starting heroin
A study of nearly 3,400 military veterans over 10 years found that those who misused opioid painkillers had a very high likelihood of also beginning to use heroin. Non-medical use of prescription painkillers was the biggest predictor of heroin use.
Antidote to opioid drug overdoses could become more accessible
A highly effective antidote to opioid overdoses, naloxone, is becoming more accessible to patients and bystanders. New intranasal spray and autoinjector devices have been developed to address issues with getting the drug to those in need.