Heroin deaths continue to rise throughout NYC

[The Watcher]

Heroin deaths continue to rise throughout NYC

Heroin. (AP Photo/Suffolk County District Attorney)

By Dan Goldberg 3:58 p.m. | Aug. 28, 2014


Heroin and other drug-related deaths continue to climb in New York City, according to data released Thursday by the Department of Mental Health and Hygiene, though the pace declined in 2013, providing at least a glimmer of hope the trend is slowing.
After increasing by 16 percent in 2011 and another 16 percent in 2012, drug-related deaths increased by just over 7 percent in 2013, according to the data.Overdoses involving heroin increased by 36 percent in 2011 and 35 percent in 2012, but by less than 10 percent in 2013.

"We are very heartened to see a flattening of that curve," assistant health commissioner Dr. Hillary Kunins said.

But be wary of reading too much into one year's worth of data, said Matt Curtis, policy director at VOCAL NY, a non-profit advocacy group.

"It might be we are reaching some saturation point, but I'd be cautious about drawing conclusions from one year to another year," he said.
Whether 2013 represents something different or a mere blip won't be known for a couple more years but what is clear from the data is that opioids, especially heroin, continue to plague the city, particularly the wealthier, whiter, more suburban neighborhoods. That mimicks a trend seen in neighboring states such as New Jersey and Vermont, where the governor dedicated his entire State of the State to the opioid problem there.

In 2013, New York City reported its wealthiest neighborhoods had the highest rate of opioid-involved deaths when compared to all other neighborhoods.

More:
http://www.capitalnewyork.com/articl...throughout-nyc

[Simpleman]

The problem is our Christian churches do not discuss this at the pulpit. We also don't discuss this as a family because there is no nuclear family.

You can only save a child with a father in the household, a clean Christian Father that respects the Mother.

I have been guilty of late calling out my wife, projecting my frustrations onto her, and I beg forgiveness from my Lord Jesus Christ.

If I can do it you can.

[dilligaf]

you can link the rise in heroin deaths to 2 things..

1: thanks to our efforts abroad,there is now more heroin coming into this country at cheaper prices than EVER before..

2: the fact that they are finally cracking down on prescription pain killer abuse.which by the way,STILL kill more folks than heroin and cocaine combined..

[jimmythebee]

if you get hooked on oxycontin and can't afford to stay on it the cheapest fix is heroin off the streets--it seems to be happening a lot.