There is a crisis sweeping the nation. It is responsible for the highest number of deaths under age 50 in America. No, it isn’t some new strain of disease or a virus outbreak. It has nothing to do with drunk driving or cigarette smoking. The culprit? Opioid abuse. As the opioid epidemic takes hold of the USA, one state seems particularly affected: New York City. Today, we are going to take an in-depth look at this deadly drug and how its rise might end.
New York City Opioid Epidemic
If you have been paying attention to the news lately, you have no doubt heard about the escalation of the opioid epidemic. While the problem is nationwide, perhaps nowhere is it more prevalent than New York City. What is being done to curb this crisis? How is the government trying to stymie the rising death toll?
To answer these questions, we must first start with the basics: what, exactly, is an opioid? We also want to understand how the opioid epidemic began, which is a complex question at best.
In America, opioid abuse began before the 1900s. Since then, it has ebbed and flowed as other drugs have risen to take prevalence. Measures by agencies such as the CDC and FDA have helped cut back on opioid dependence in the past as well. However, the class of drugs has had resurgences along the way. During the 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s, different forms of opioids rose to popularity. Now, once more, the opioid epidemic is back, stronger than ever and in its most deadly form.
What Are Opioids?
Opioids are a class of drug that act on what is known as “opioid receptors” in a person’s nervous system. The first opioid came from a sort of poppy and was known as “opium.” It has existed in one form or another for thousands of years and is a narcotic. You may be familiar with movies featuring opium dens in China or England; it is also a staple of some popular fictional characters, such as Sherlock Holmes.
A little before the 1900s, other drugs began to derive from opium. The first of these was morphine. Then came along the likes of heroin and prescription painkillers (OxyContin, Percocet, and Vicodin). While these were mostly used as treatments to alleviate pain, they eventually found their way into recreational use and abuse.
Not every opioid is a derivative of opium today. There are several compounds that behave as opiates, yet have no relation to the plant. These types of opioids are known as synthetics. The primary opioid synthetics are methadone and fentanyl.
Why Are Opiods So Addictive?
Opioids and synthetic opiates are relatively cheap and easy to obtain in the United States. This has made the opioid epidemic particularly problematic, as the key ingredients are readily available via means such as prescriptions and other channels.
As stated above, opioids work by affecting the opioid receptors (which get their name from opium). This part of the nervous system is responsible for pain regulation and the human “reward center.” This combination of pain relief and pleasure makes the class of drugs appealing.
Opioid Epidemic by the Numbers
In the past year, New York City has been afflicted by over 1,300 overdose deaths due to the opioid epidemic. Nationwide, tens of thousands of Americans die from an accidental opioid overdose each year. These numbers are startling when you factor in the fact that not every overdose results in death.
The New York Department of Health has a telling breakdown of opioid-related data that sheds further light. Of all overdoses, roughly 80% were due to opioid use; 90% of those are due to heroin or fentanyl.
All told, the number of overdoses for opioids is up 40% from last year. In addition, the number has doubled over the past twenty years. Those numbers, officials say, rival the crack epidemic of the 80s.
In fact, in just four years (2011 to 2015), arrests from heroin sales increased nearly 60%. Those 1,300 opioid overdoses? Compare them to 330 murders and 225 vehicular deaths, and you can see the true scope of the problem.
Solving the Opioid Epidemic
Solving the opioid epidemic is no simple task. With the jail system already overflowing, lawmakers are looking for alternative solutions. As NYPD Commissioner James O’Neill stated: “We can’t arrest our way out of this problem.”
Court systems are looking more and more to rehabilitation versus jail time for addicts. Instead of incarcerating more users, they hope to treat opioid addiction instead. Police officers, for their part, are going after drug dealers versus users, in the hopes of cutting the problem off at its source.
New York City Drug Crimes Defense Attorney
Have questions about the opioid epidemic? Do you seek counsel or a NY drug crime defense attorney? Contact lawyer Troy A. Smith today to discuss your criminal defense options!
