The Opioid Epidemic through the eyes of a Narcotics Officer in New York

The Opioid crisis has been elevated to a National emergency. In New York, heroin and prescription opioid abuse is a growing concern. According to the New York State Department of Health, opioid related emergencies increased by 73% from 2010 to 2014. This increase is higher than every state in the country.

There is a link between the rise in opioid prescriptions, and overdoses from liquid heroin as well as pill form. Opioids are drugs used to reduce pain, says the Center for Disease Control (CDC). Prescription drugs with the highest addiction potential are, oxycodone, hydrocodone, morphine, and methadone. Narcotics Officer Kristopher Philips said, “I believe there is an opioid epidemic due to the ease of access to most opioids, as well as the price. One pill could go as high as $20 or as cheap as $5." In 2012, doctors prescribed over 200 million opioids prescriptions. In the street, these drugs are easily accessible.

New York State has implemented the NYSDOH Opioid Overdose Prevention Program. It focuses on creating several overdose response units in communities. The Save a life law enables non-medical personnel the ability to administer Naloxone (Narcan). Narcan is a prescription medicine used to reverse an overdose by blocking heroin in the brain for 30 to 90 minutes. “I am personally trained in Narcan use, the entire department is, we carry it on patrol every day,” said Officer Philips.

Prescription Opioids use is a high-risk factor to heroin use. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, close to 80 percent of heroin users reported using prescription opioids prior to heroin. There seems to be a shift in historical trends. From the people who entered treatment in the 1960’s for opioid abuse, more than 80 percent started with heroin. From the people who entered treatment in the 2000’s, 75 percent reported their first opioids were prescription pills.

Fentanyl is a man-made opioid that is like morphine. It is currently classified as a Schedule II Controlled Substance, which has a very high potential for abuse. Unlike heroin, Fentanyl is used medically to treat severe pain. According to the CDC, overdoses from synthetic opioids like Fentanyl have nearly doubled from 2013 to 2014. Users may not realize what kind of drugs they are using. Fentanyl is more potent than heroin, and users can overdose faster on lessor doses. “Fentanyl is different because it is strictly white, that’s the stuff that is killing people in the overdoses,” said Officer Philips.

The Opioid Epidemic is a problem of the worst kind. Young people are dying, and families are being destroyed. Deaths continue, while doctors keep prescribing. As citizens, it is our duty to spread awareness of these issues.