Can Prescription Painkillers lead to Heroin Use?

In lots of ways, this world has come full circle from the early 20th century when heroin was utilized as cough medication. Nowadays, drugs which are equally as potent and powerful are prescribed by doctors as a solution and remedy for pain and discomfort, leading quickly to drug addiction for, possibly, the majority of patients and sufferers. From there, it may or may not actually progress to and reach heroin narcotic use and drug addiction. During the last five years alone, heroin deaths or fatalities have increased by 45 % — an increase and growth which officials blame on the rise of addictive prescription drugs and medications such as Codeine, Fentora, OxyContin, Percocet, and Vicodin all of which are opioids (derivatives and types of opium, just like heroin).

This connection and link finally and at last received some media and press attention following the death of Philip Hoffman, an actor and Oscar winner. Hoffman who was 46 died from a heroin overdose at the beginning of 2014. Not too long ago (2013), Philip Hoffman entered a rehabilitation treatment program when his addiction to doctor prescribed painkillers led him to change to heroin use. However, please do not be misled and confused that it requires heroin use in order to cause a fatal or deadly overdose. All opioids depress a person’s heart rate as well as breathing. Large dosages can cause sedation or sleep and slowed breathing to a stage that breathing actually stops entirely, resulting in death from this dangerous drug called heroin.