DEA: Alarming rise in prescription pills, heroin, meth use

[Jesus Malverde]

The Drug Enforcement Administration said after years of progress in the war on drugs, the nation has taken a huge step backward.

Heroin use is skyrocketing, especially in the Southwest, along with prescription drugs and meth.

"It's definitely made a comeback in the most terrible way," said Austin, a recovering prescription drug and heroin addict who asked we not reveal her full name.

Prescription drugs are considered the nation's biggest problem right now, but people are also turning to heroin because it's cheap and easily available - and they're using it at a younger age, according to the DEA.

"I didn't think when I started smoking pot that I'd be shooting heroin and cocaine two years later," said Justin, a recovering addict who also asked that we withhold his last name.

"Percocet and Oxycontin, eventually it just moved along and I figured out that heroin was cheaper," Justin said.


http://www.kpho.com/story/24005155/dea-prescription-pill-heroin-meth-use-dangerously-rising

[shenmue]

1. :(

[TheSarcastinator]

2. another victim of evil marijuana!

""I didn't think when I started smoking pot that I'd be shooting heroin and cocaine two years later," said Justin, a recovering addict who also asked that we withhold his last name. "

Poor Justin; just another victim of the devil weed. I'm sure the DEA would never create fake characters for its press releases on the importance of the drug war.

And by all means, let us continue to criminalize narcotics addicts and restrict access to painkillers. I would rather a thousand people in real pain from deadly illnesses go without comfort than one junkie get high. Onward, America!

[renie408]

3. Doesn't this kind of make sense?

When life sucks, people will do what they can to get 'away' from it. Life has pretty much sucked nationwide for awhile now.

[devils chaplain]

4. +1

Opiates are, more than any other drug, a temporary "escape."

Although from what I understand, they are also very overprescribed.

[Warpy]

5. Translation: "We want to suck up more tax money, we all want raises and new military hardware!"

Looks like they've done a piss poor job of keeping drugs out of the country.

Maybe it's time to disband them, make them get honest jobs.

[Warren Stupidity]

6. This is the official Drug Warrior Counter Offensive Talking Point.

Note the "gateway" bullshit.

The sad thing is that for many people these scare tactics work.

Here's a free clue: drug abuse is a public health problem, not a criminal justice problem.