Prescription Heroin Abuse Case Study

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"Prescription drug abuse and heroin use have taken a heartbreaking toll on too many Americans and their families, while straining law enforcement and treatment programs " (Mundell, 2015 para.1). The rate of abuse and overdose of prescription painkillers (opioids) and heroin is on the rise at a very rapid rate. This is becoming a world wide epidemic, just in Michigan the number of overdoses related to prescription painkillers and/or heroin use has tripled since 1999 (Kuhlman, 2015). The Center for Disease Control (CDC) states the heroin use is just the beginning of substance abuse. Those who are addicted to heroin are more likely to become addicted to alcohol, marijuana, cocaine and opioids. It is the role of healthcare providers to help this