The front lines of the heroin epidemic

Mar 24, 2016

The front lines of the heroin epidemic

Christina Tkacik 0 Comment Daily Life, Up Close cdc, center for disease control, gloucester, heroin epidemic, New England, opiods, painkillers

Communities across the United States are struggling with an epidemic of overdose deaths due to heroin and opioid pain pill addiction. On March 15, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), announced guidelines for doctors to reduce the amount of opioid painkillers prescribed nationwide, in an effort to curb the epidemic. The CDC estimates that most new heroin addicts first became hooked on prescription pain medication before graduating to heroin, which is stronger and cheaper.

: GLOUCESTER, MA – MARCH 22: A police officer holds bags of heroin confiscated as evidence on March 22, 2016 in Gloucester, MA. Last year Gloucester created the Angel Program, which directs addicts to treatment centers, instead of jailing them, and the program has been increasingly copied by police departments nationwide. Communities across New England are struggling with an epidemic of overdoses and deaths due to addiction to opioid painkillers and heroin. On March 15, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), announced guidelines for doctors to reduce the amount of opioid painkillers prescribed nationwide, in an effort to curb the epidemic. The CDC estimates that most new heroin addicts first became hooked on prescription pain medication before graduating to heroin, which is stronger and cheaper. (John Moore/Getty Images)

: GLOUCESTER, MA – MARCH 22: Gloucester police sergeant Jeremiah Nicastro patrols through a cemetery on March 22, 2016 in Gloucester, MA. Gloucester and communities across New England are struggling with an epidemic of overdose deaths due to heroin and opioid pain pill addiction. On March 15, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), announced guidelines for doctors to reduce the amount of opioid painkillers prescribed nationwide, in an effort to curb the epidemic. The CDC estimates that most new heroin addicts first became hooked on prescription pain medication before graduating to heroin, which is stronger and cheaper. (John Moore/Getty Images)

: NEW LONDON, CT – MARCH 14: Traffic moves through downtown streets on March 14, 2016 in New London, CT. Communities across New England are struggling with an epidemic of overdoses and deaths due to addiction to opioid painkillers and heroin. On March 15, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), announced guidelines for doctors to reduce the amount of opioid painkillers prescribed nationwide, in an effort to curb the epidemic. The CDC estimates that most new heroin addicts first became hooked on prescription pain medication before graduating to heroin, which is stronger and cheaper. (John Moore/Getty Images)

: GLOUCESTER, MA – MARCH 22: Gloucester police sergeant Jeremiah Nicastro walks through a cemetery on March 22, 2016 in Gloucester, MA. Gloucester and communities across New England are struggling with an epidemic of overdose deaths due to heroin and opioid pain pill addiction. On March 15, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), announced guidelines for doctors to reduce the amount of opioid painkillers prescribed nationwide, in an effort to curb the epidemic. The CDC estimates that most new heroin addicts first became hooked on prescription pain medication before graduating to heroin, which is stronger and cheaper. (John Moore/Getty Images)

: GROTON, CT – FEBRUARY 26: Joe de la Cruz, who’s son is in recovery from heroin addiction, speaks to students at Fitch Senior High School to educate them about the dangers of opioid painkiller medication and heroin addiction on February 26, 2016 in Groton, CT. The group Communities Speak Out held the event to combat the epidemic of overdoses and deaths sweeping the area. On March 15, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), announced guidelines for doctors to reduce the amount of opioid painkillers prescribed nationwide. The CDC estimates that most current heroin addicts first became hooked on prescription pain medication, and of those, many started as adolescents. (John Moore/Getty Images)

: WESTBOROUGH, MA – MARCH 22: Drug addicts in recovery excercise at a substance abuse treatment center on March 22, 2016 in Westborough, MA. The new 100-bed residential rehab center, run by Spectrum Health Systems, is expanding staff, as communities across New England are struggling with the unprecidented heroin and opioid pain pill epidemic. On March 15, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), announced guidelines for doctors to reduce the amount of opioid painkillers prescribed nationwide, in an effort to curb the epidemic. The CDC estimates that most new heroin addicts first became hooked on prescription pain medication before graduating to heroin, which is stronger and cheaper. (John Moore/Getty Images)

: NEW LONDON, CT – MARCH 14: New London police officers search a suspect for heroin on March 14, 2016 in New London, CT. Police say an increasing number of suburban addicts are coming into the city to buy heroin, which is much cheaper than opioid painkillers. On March 15, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), announced guidelines for doctors to reduce the amount of opioid painkillers prescribed nationwide. The CDC estimates that most new heroin addicts first became hooked on prescription pain medication before graduating to heroin, which is stronger and cheaper. (John Moore/Getty Images)

: NEW LONDON, CT – MARCH 23: A heroin user injects himself on March 23, 2016 in New London, CT. Communities throughout New England and nationwide are struggling with the unprecidented heroin and opioid pain pill epidemic. On March 15, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), announced guidelines for doctors to reduce the amount of opioid painkillers prescribed nationwide, in an effort to curb the epidemic. The CDC estimates that most new heroin addicts first became hooked on prescription pain medication before graduating to heroin, which is stronger and cheaper. (John Moore/Getty Images)

: NEW LONDON, CT – MARCH 14: Jackson, 27, who said he is addicted to prescription medication, lies passed out in a public library on March 14, 2016 in New London, CT. Police say an increasing number of suburban addicts are coming into the city to buy heroin, which is much cheaper than opioid painkillers. On March 15, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), announced guidelines for doctors to reduce the amount of opioid painkillers prescribed nationwide. The CDC estimates that most new heroin addicts first became hooked on prescription pain medication before graduating to heroin, which is stronger and cheaper. (John Moore/Getty Images)

: GROTON, CT – FEBRUARY 26: Students at Fitch Senior High School listen during a presentation in the school auditorium to educate them about the dangers of opioid painkiller medication and heroin addiction on February 26, 2016 in Groton, CT. The group Communities Speak Out held the event to combat the epidemic of overdoses and deaths sweeping the area. On March 15, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), announced guidelines for doctors to reduce the amount of opioid painkillers prescribed nationwide. The CDC estimates that most current heroin addicts first became hooked on prescription pain medication, and of those, many started as adolescents. (John Moore/Getty Images)

: WESTBOROUGH, MA – MARCH 22: A rehab counselor “high-fives” an addict in recovery following a group therapy session at a substance abuse treatment center on March 22, 2016 in Westborough, MA. The new 100-bed residential rehab center, run by Spectrum Health Systems, is expanding staff, as communities across New England are struggling with the unprecidented heroin and opioid pain pill epidemic. On March 15, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), announced guidelines for doctors to reduce the amount of opioid painkillers prescribed nationwide, in an effort to curb the epidemic. The CDC estimates that most new heroin addicts first became hooked on prescription pain medication before graduating to heroin, which is stronger and cheaper. (John Moore/Getty Images)

: WESTBOROUGH, MA – MARCH 22: A drug addict in recovery looks out from a substance abuse treatment center on March 22, 2016 in Westborough, MA. The new 100-bed residential rehab center, run by Spectrum Health Systems, is expanding staff, as communities across New England are struggling with the unprecidented heroin and opioid pain pill epidemic. On March 15, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), announced guidelines for doctors to reduce the amount of opioid painkillers prescribed nationwide, in an effort to curb the epidemic. The CDC estimates that most new heroin addicts first became hooked on prescription pain medication before graduating to heroin, which is stronger and cheaper. (John Moore/Getty Images)

: GROTON, CT – MARCH 23: Parents of heroin and opioid addicts embrace during a family addiction support group on March 23, 2016 in Groton, CT. The group Communities Speak Out organizes monthly meetings at a public library for family members to talk about how their loved ones’ addiction affects them and to give each other emotional support. Communities nationwide are struggling with the unprecidented heroin and opioid pain pill epidemic. On March 15, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), announced guidelines for doctors to reduce the amount of opioid painkillers prescribed nationwide, in an effort to curb the epidemic. The CDC estimates that most new heroin addicts first became hooked on prescription pain medication before graduating to heroin, which is stronger and cheaper. (John Moore/Getty Images)

: GROTON, CT – MARCH 23: A mother who’s son is addicted to heroin shares her story during a family addiction support group on March 23, 2016 in Groton, CT. The group Communities Speak Out organizes monthly meetings at a public library for family members to talk about how their loved ones’ addiction affects them and to give each other emotional support. Communities nationwide are struggling with the unprecidented heroin and opioid pain pill epidemic. On March 15, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), announced guidelines for doctors to reduce the amount of opioid painkillers prescribed nationwide, in an effort to curb the epidemic. The CDC estimates that most new heroin addicts first became hooked on prescription pain medication before graduating to heroin, which is stronger and cheaper. (John Moore/Getty Images)

: NEW LONDON, CT – MARCH 14: A plainclothed narcotics officer searches the car of a suspected heroin addict on March 14, 2016 in New London, CT. Police say an increasing number of suburban addicts are coming into the city to buy heroin, which is much cheaper than opioid painkillers. On March 15, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), announced guidelines for doctors to reduce the amount of opioid painkillers prescribed nationwide. The CDC estimates that most new heroin addicts first became hooked on prescription pain medication before graduating to heroin, which is stronger and cheaper. (John Moore/Getty Images)

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