Suburban Heroin Epidemic

Overview

• Heroin epidemic in suburbs, once seen only in inner cities.
• Leah Deland, representative of suburban heroin users, stealing from family for drugs.

Personal Stories

Leah Deland

• Grew up in suburban area of southern Ohio and northern Kentucky.
• Stealing from family to fund heroin addiction.
• Experience symptoms of withdrawal: body aches, chills, nausea.
• Became addicted to heroin at age 18 after trying it with her brother.

Sarah Cordenbrock

• Lived in Kentucky suburb with a middle-class family.
• Became addicted to heroin after initially using painkillers post-injury.
• Parents intervened by committing her to psych ward and rehab multiple times.
• Eventually managed to stay clean, got engaged, and has a daughter.

Olivia Deland

• Experienced heroin addiction, contracted hepatitis C.
• Struggles to stay clean despite multiple rehab attempts.
• Pregnant again, decides to stop using for the sake of her child.
• Planned to enter detox center.

Mike Heffron

• Grew up in an upper-middle-class family, loved sports.
• Became addicted to heroin, struggled with withdrawal.
• Passed away from heroin overdose at 34.

Heroin's Infiltration into Suburbs

• Heroin crisis worsened as prescription opioid abuse increased.
• Many started on painkillers like Percocet, transitioned to heroin for cost reasons.
• Heroin cheaper and more accessible than prescription drugs.

Statistics and Trends

• Heroin overdose rates nearly quadrupled between 2000 and 2013.
• Heroin users increased by 82% from 2007 to 2013.
• Deaths from heroin overdoses: Ohio tripled from 2010 to 2013; Kentucky increased by 500%.

Community and Law Enforcement

• Police Chief Spike Jones notes increase in suburban users.
• Drug users caught with children in cars.
• EMS and fire department reported numerous overdoses requiring Narcan to revive individuals.

Societal Impact

• Families devastated financially and emotionally due to addiction.
• Many addicts lose custody of children and face legal issues.
• Addiction turns individuals into liars and thieves.

Challenges in Recovery

• Rehab and detox are difficult, many experience relapse.
• Heroin significantly alters brain chemistry, making recovery challenging.
• High relapse rate, experts suggest between 60-90%.