Heroin Use Surging Among Women and Middle-Class Americans Who Fell into the Prescription Painkiller Trap

September 10, 2015
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Prescription Painkillers Pave Way for Heroin Addiction

According to CDC Director Dr. Thomas Frieden, opioid painkillers like Vicodin, OxyContin, and Percocet increase your susceptibility to heroin addiction, and the report found that the vast majority — 75 percent — of heroin users started out on prescription painkillers.

Those who abuse prescription opiates have a 40 times greater risk of abusing heroin, and the widespread misuse of prescription painkillers is thought to be at the heart of rising heroin addiction and related deaths.

As reported by Reuters:⁵

“Frieden said... doctors are prescribing ‘way too much of these medications, and the result of it is large numbers of people who are addicted.’"

Indeed, prescriptions for opioid painkillers have risen by a staggering 300 percent over the past decade.⁶ As of 2012, 259 million prescriptions for opioids and other narcotic painkillers were written⁷ in the US.

The trend of painkiller abuse can also be seen in death rates linked to overdoses from prescription painkillers, which rose by 350 percent among men and 500 percent among women in the decade between 1999 and 2010.

Notably, there were four times more deaths from prescription painkillers among women than for cocaine and heroin combined in 2010.⁸

Heroin Use Surging Among Women and Middle-Class

While heroin use has increased across the board, among both sexes, virtually all age groups, and all income levels, some of the largest increases are seen in groups that have had historically low rates of heroin use, namely women, the privately insured, and those in higher income brackets.

These demographic groups do correlate with higher rates of prescription opioid abuse, however — another indication that prescription painkillers have become a primary gateway drug.

Among women, heroin use has doubled in the past decade. Heroin use also rose by 60 percent among those with an annual income of at least $50,000, and by 62.5 percent among people with private insurance.

Multiple-drug addiction is also common. Ninety-six percent of heroin users use at least one other drug, including prescription painkillers, cocaine, marijuana, and alcohol.

In all, an estimated 517,000 Americans used heroin in 2013 — a 150 percent increase since 2007. Price is one major incentive for switching. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), one day’s supply of OxyContin on the street can cost as much as $160, while a day's worth of heroin costs about $40.

People also turn to heroin when they can no longer get their prescriptions refilled, or when their tolerance level surpasses their allotted prescription dosage.

Gender Differences Place Female Addicts at Increased Risk for Death

The Atlantic⁹ recently discussed the phenomena of rising heroin use among women, noting that gender differences can make getting hooked on painkillers a riskier proposition for women than for men.

“Women tend to become dependent on drugs more quickly than men, according to the most recent data¹⁰ from the Substance Abuse Mental-Health Services Administration.

This is especially the case among those who abuse alcohol, marijuana, and opioids like heroin. Women also find it harder to quit and can be more susceptible than men to relapse, according to Harvard Medical School.”¹¹

A 2013 study¹² identified three factors that are predictive of an increased risk of painkiller dependence:

Frequency of painkiller use
History of substance abuse (often unrelated to pain relief)
Reduced ability to cope with pain

According to the authors:

"Based on these findings, a preliminary model is presented with three types of influence on the development of painkiller dependence:

1) Pain leading to painkiller use

2) Risk factors for substance-related problems irrespective of pain, and

3) Psychological factors related to pain."

The second and third items may reveal some of the underlying mechanisms that place women at increased risk of painkiller and heroin abuse.

As discussed in my recent interview with Dr. Pamela Peeke, food addiction is very common, especially among women. And those who have suffered emotional trauma or abuse during childhood or adolescence are particularly predisposed to addiction of all kinds — not just food.

How Addiction Works

Groundbreaking research into food addiction reveals that the mechanisms of addiction are identical no matter what you’re addicted to, be it food or drugs. A critical player in all forms of addiction is the neurotransmitter dopamine.

Your brain can secrete dopamine simply by looking at a picture of a loved one or a beautiful sunset. But you will not feel pleasure or reward unless dopamine binds with its receptor (D2 receptors), which are located all throughout the reward center in your brain.

When dopamine links to the D2 receptor, immediate changes take place in your brain cells, producing the experience a "hit" of pleasure and reward. However, when the stimulation becomes too high, your brain's reward center will begin to downregulate your D2 receptors, basically eliminating some of them.

This is a built-in survival strategy to prevent you from becoming hyperstimulated, but as a result you no longer feel anywhere near the pleasure and reward you felt initially. As a result, you build tolerance, which means you need greater amounts of the substance to achieve the same result you got initially.

Addictive cravings also grow stronger, and this is where it can get really dangerous when you’re using painkillers or heroin, as opioids can slow your breathing to the point of death if you take too much. Such risks are compounded if you add alcohol or other drugs to the equation. As previously reported by CNN's chief medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta:¹³

"…after just a few months of taking the pills... [t]he effectiveness wears off, and patients typically report getting only about 30 percent pain relief, compared with when they started. Even more concerning, a subgroup of these patients develop a condition known as hyperalgesia, an increased sensitivity to pain.

As you might guess, all of this creates a situation where the person starts to take more and more pills. And even though they are no longer providing much pain relief, they can still diminish the body's drive to breathe. If you are awake you may not notice it, but if you fall asleep with too many of these pills in your system, you never wake up."

Weighing the Risks Versus Benefits of Painkillers

As noted by CDC Director, Dr. Thomas Frieden:¹⁴ "Before they prescribe an opioid for the first time, doctors really need to look at the risks and the benefits, particularly for chronic pain like back pain, neck pain, headaches. Really, does it make sense to give a prescription opiate for these conditions? What are the risks and what are the benefits? Well, we know the risks – someone can get addicted for life and if they take a few too many pills, they can die. The benefits are really unproven for chronic, non-cancer pain management."

Indeed, despite dramatic increases in prescriptions, two papers,^15,¹⁶ published in the Annals of Internal Medicine earlier this year found NO evidence in the medical literature supporting the long-term safety and effectiveness of narcotic painkillers. Most trials do not go past six weeks, and there are no studies longer than one year on record. There’s also a lack of standardized trials evaluating the side effects of opioid use, which is the “golden standard” of medical science-based evidence.

Clearly, there are instances where a narcotic painkiller may be warranted, but it’s really important to use the lowest effective dose for as short a period of time as possible. For people suffering from chronic pain, neither of these warnings is going to be popular, and many may argue that they can’t function without some form of pain relief. This is understandable, but if you’re struggling with chronic aches and pains, I urge you to take the time to investigate your options, and to really try to address the root of your pain rather than cover it up with a narcotic that can lead to debilitating addiction and death.

Non-Drug Alternatives for Pain Relief

Following are some of the most effective non-drug alternatives for the treatment of various types of pain that I know of. If you’re in pain, I recommend trying these first, before even thinking about prescription painkillers of any kind.

Medical cannabis	Medical cannabis has a long history as a natural analgesic.¹⁷ At present, 23 US states have legalized cannabis for medical purposes.¹⁸ Its medicinal qualities are due to high amounts (about 10-20 percent) of cannabidiol (CBD), medicinal terpenes, and flavonoids. As discussed in this previous article, varieties of cannabis exist that are very low in tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) — the psychoactive component of marijuana that makes you feel "stoned" — and high in medicinal CBD. The Journal of Pain,¹⁹ a publication by the American Pain Society, has a long list of studies on the pain-relieving effects of cannabis and would certainly seem worth the effort for anyone with chronic pain to utilize. Just be sure to seek out a knowledgeable cannabis physician, as many have no idea of the proper dosing. If you are seriously considering medical cannabis for pain, it is imperative that you view my interview with Dr. Alan Frankel, who is one of the leading medical cannabis physicians in the US. He can do consultations on the phone if one needs specific questions answered.
Eliminate or radically reduce processed foods	Avoiding processed grains and refined sugars (particularly fructose) will lower your insulin and leptin levels and decrease insulin and leptin resistance, which is one of the most important reasons why inflammatory prostaglandins are produced. That is why stopping sugar and sweets is so important to controlling your pain and other types of chronic illnesses.
Take a high-quality, animal-based omega-3 fat	My personal favorite is krill oil. Omega-3 fats are precursors to mediators of inflammation called prostaglandins. (In fact, that is how anti-inflammatory painkillers work: they manipulate prostaglandins.)
Optimize your vitamin D level	Optimizing your vitamin D level by getting regular, appropriate sun exposure and taking a vitamin D3 supplement can help reduce pain via a variety of different mechanisms.
Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT)	EFT is a drug-free approach for pain management of all kinds. It borrows from the principles of acupuncture, in that it helps you balance out your subtle energy system. It helps resolve underlying, often subconscious, negative emotions that may be exacerbating your physical pain. By stimulating (tapping) well-established acupuncture points with your fingertips, you rebalance your energy system, which tends to dissipate pain.
K-Laser Class 4 Laser Therapy	K-Laser therapy can be an excellent choice for many painful conditions, including acute injuries. By addressing the underlying cause of the pain, you will no longer need to rely on painkillers. K-Laser is a class 4 infrared laser therapy treatment that helps reduce pain, reduce inflammation, and enhance tissue healing — both in hard and soft tissues, including muscles, ligaments, or even bones. The infrared wavelengths used in the K-Laser allow for targeting specific areas of your body, and can penetrate deeply into the body to reach areas such as your spine and hip. For more information about this groundbreaking technology, and how it can help heal chronic pain, please listen to my previous interview with Dr. Harrington.
Avoid sitting down	One of the most common causes of pain is low back pain. Even I struggled with it for many years. The only thing that eliminated it, yes entirely 100% gone, was radically reducing the number of hours of sitting from 15 hours a day to less than one.
Chiropractic	Many studies have confirmed that chiropractic management is much safer and less expensive than allopathic medical treatments, especially when used for back pain. Qualified chiropractic, osteopathic, and naturopathic physicians are reliable, as they have received extensive training in the management of musculoskeletal disorders during their course of graduate healthcare training, which lasts between four to six years. These health experts have comprehensive training in musculoskeletal management.
Acupuncture	Research has discovered a "clear and robust" effect of acupuncture in the treatment of: back-, neck- and shoulder pain, osteoarthritis, and headaches.
Physical therapy and massage therapy	Both have been shown to be effective for painful conditions such as torn cartilage and arthritis.
Astaxanthin	Astaxanthin is one of the most effective fat-soluble antioxidants known. It has very potent anti-inflammatory properties and in many cases works far more effectively than anti-inflammatory drugs. Higher doses are typically required and you may need 8 mg or more per day to achieve this benefit.
Ginger	This herb has potent anti-inflammatory activity and offers pain relief and stomach-settling properties. Fresh ginger works well steeped in boiling water as a tea or grated into vegetable juice.
Curcumin	In a study of osteoarthritis patients, those who added 200 mg of curcumin a day to their treatment plan had reduced pain and increased mobility. Another study also found that a turmeric extract composed of curcuminoids blocked inflammatory pathways, effectively preventing the overproduction of a protein that triggers swelling and pain.²⁰
Boswellia	Also known as boswellin or "Indian frankincense," this herb contains specific active anti-inflammatory ingredients. This is one of my personal favorites as I have seen it work well with many rheumatoid arthritis patients.
Bromelain	This enzyme, found in pineapples, is a natural anti-inflammatory. It can be taken in supplement form but eating fresh pineapple, including some of the bromelain-rich stem, may also be helpful.
Cetyl Myristoleate (CMO)	This oil, found in fish and dairy butter, acts as a "joint lubricant" and an anti-inflammatory. I have used this for myself to relieve ganglion cysts and a mild annoying carpal tunnel syndrome that pops up when I type too much on non-ergonomic keyboards. I used a topical preparation for this.
Evening Primrose, Black Currant and Borage Oils	These contain the essential fatty acid gamma linolenic acid (GLA), which is useful for treating arthritic pain.
Cayenne Cream	Also called capsaicin cream, this spice comes from dried hot peppers. It alleviates pain by depleting the body's supply of substance P, a chemical component of nerve cells that transmits pain signals to your brain.
Mind-body techniques	Methods such as yoga, massage, meditation, hot and cold packs, and other mind-body techniques can also result in astonishing pain relief without any drugs.
Grounding	Grounding, or walking barefoot on the earth, may also provide a certain measure of pain relief by combating inflammation

Heroin Use Surging Among Women and Middle-Class Americans Who Fell into the Prescription Painkiller Trap

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Prescription Painkillers Pave Way for Heroin Addiction