{"componentChunkName":"component---common-build-tags-template-js","path":"/tag/heroin/","result":{"data":{"allArticle":{"edges":[{"node":{"id":"Article_2259-markdown","title":"The Long History of Opioid Abuse in the United States","slug":"the-long-history-of-opioid-abuse-in-the-united-states","content":"In the last few years, it seems as if the call for a solution to the rampant opioid addiction or what is commonly referred to as the “opioid epidemic” has reached a fever pitch — and with reason. [Statistics](https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/epidemic/index.html) from the Center for Disease Control reveal that more than 650,000 prescriptions for opioids are distributed every single day with more than 4,000 people initiating non-medical or doctor-regulated use daily. And in just 15 years, between 2000 and 2015, the number of prescription opioids quadrupled and more than half a million people lost their lives due to drug overdoses.\r\n\r\nFOLLOW US ON [FACEBOOK](https://www.facebook.com/pg/hellomdcompany/posts/) & [INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/hellomd_com/?hl=en)\r\n\r\n### An Epidemic in the United States\r\n \r\nOpioids are substances that are supposed to be used to help reduce or eliminate moderate to severe pain in the body by interacting with the opioid receptors that are distributed throughout the body in the brain, spinal cord and digestive tract. They are a class of drugs that includes natural, synthetic and semi-synthetic prescribed medicines including oxycodone most recognized as OxyContin or Percocet and hydrocodone better known as Vicodin as well as illegal drugs like heroin and opium. \r\n\r\nThe present opioid epidemic is usually traced back to the 1990s, when both pundits and presidents began expressing a heightened concern over the growing number of adults abusing what was once touted as a wonder drug. Opioids became known for being highly addictive and a driving factor in the large numbers of deaths among communities of color, veterans and other marginalized groups who were not often seen with the same compassion that has been introduced to the cultural conversation surrounding drug abuse and rehabilitation today. Donald Trump has expressed concern for what he considers a unique national emergency affecting the country right now, although it is actually a problem that has been resurfacing again and again since the 19th century.\r\n\r\nRELATED: [MARIJUANA DOES NOT CAUSE OPIOID ADDICATION](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/marijuana-does-not-cause-opioid-addiction)\r\n\r\n### The History of Opioids\r\n\r\nThe start of opioid abuse begins much further back than just a few decades ago in the 1990s.\r\nThe history of opioid use [dates back](http://www.theatlantic.com/sponsored/purdue-health/a-brief-history-of-opioids/184/) in time to Lower Mesopotamia, when opium poppy was being cultivated in 3400 B.C. Historians have frequently traced the beginning of the abuse problem back to the 19th century following the introduction of morphine to modern medicine in 1817 that changed the medical practice forever. \r\n\r\nAt the time, morphine was taken orally and took time for the effects to kick in. It often came with unpleasant side effects ranging from vomiting, nausea and constipation to dizziness and respiratory problems including drastically slowed breathing. Still, it wasn’t until a little more than 50 years later in 1870 that opioid abuse began to become a prevalent issue with the emergence of the hypodermic needle, which allowed for almost instantaneous relief from pain due to how it was administered. Although well-meaning, physicians looked to morphine for almost any reason to alleviate their patients pain-related symptoms from significant wounds to menstrual cramps, creating a culture of morphine-addicted patients. \r\n\r\nThere were also instances where patients were put in charge of administering their own doses of morphine from traveling doctors and medical professionals who only made infrequent visits due to transportation. Unattended and unregulated access to morphine only exacerbated the already-widespread problem and catapulted that era into a opioid epidemic. \r\n\r\n### Heroin & Morphine\r\n\r\nAlmost 30 years later in 1898, heroin was [introduced commercially](http://edition.cnn.com/2016/05/12/health/opioid-addiction-history/index.html) as a pain reliever, cough suppressant and non-addictive substitute for morphine addicts. After it was clear the new alternative was also highly addictive, it eventually became illegal in 1924 after the Heroin Act was passed which banned the importation, manufacture and possession of the substance throughout the United States. In 1938, the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act allowed the FDA to declare that all food, drugs and cosmetics sold to the public needed to be proven safe and free of harm, but still allowed medicines that were derived from opioids and already being sold like codeine, morphine and oxycodone to remain available. \r\n\r\nToday, these same substances are being prescribed and abused by patients despite more and more evidence that cannabis can be an effective alternative to traditional opioid treatment for pain. In fact, a seminal [study](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/hellomd-and-uc-berkeley-release-study-on-cannabis-use-as-a-substitute-for-opioid-and-non-opioid-based-pain-medication) recently released by HelloMD and UC Berkeley shows that 92% of cannabis patients actually prefer to manage their chronic pain using cannabis to opioids, proving that cannabis can be just as effective as prescription pills for physical discomfort.\r\n\r\nIf you are new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's 100% online, private and efficient.  \r\n\r\n\r\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"src":"/static/3b5b79dc4bd45df67c9c0c05ff7cd63c/14b42/b6a9ffa2065916baf87c718c47f0da8c.jpg","srcSet":"/static/3b5b79dc4bd45df67c9c0c05ff7cd63c/f836f/b6a9ffa2065916baf87c718c47f0da8c.jpg 200w,\n/static/3b5b79dc4bd45df67c9c0c05ff7cd63c/2244e/b6a9ffa2065916baf87c718c47f0da8c.jpg 400w,\n/static/3b5b79dc4bd45df67c9c0c05ff7cd63c/14b42/b6a9ffa2065916baf87c718c47f0da8c.jpg 800w,\n/static/3b5b79dc4bd45df67c9c0c05ff7cd63c/47498/b6a9ffa2065916baf87c718c47f0da8c.jpg 1200w,\n/static/3b5b79dc4bd45df67c9c0c05ff7cd63c/54ac5/b6a9ffa2065916baf87c718c47f0da8c.jpg 1365w","srcWebp":"/static/3b5b79dc4bd45df67c9c0c05ff7cd63c/58556/b6a9ffa2065916baf87c718c47f0da8c.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/3b5b79dc4bd45df67c9c0c05ff7cd63c/61e93/b6a9ffa2065916baf87c718c47f0da8c.webp 200w,\n/static/3b5b79dc4bd45df67c9c0c05ff7cd63c/1f5c5/b6a9ffa2065916baf87c718c47f0da8c.webp 400w,\n/static/3b5b79dc4bd45df67c9c0c05ff7cd63c/58556/b6a9ffa2065916baf87c718c47f0da8c.webp 800w,\n/static/3b5b79dc4bd45df67c9c0c05ff7cd63c/99238/b6a9ffa2065916baf87c718c47f0da8c.webp 1200w,\n/static/3b5b79dc4bd45df67c9c0c05ff7cd63c/5e0b8/b6a9ffa2065916baf87c718c47f0da8c.webp 1365w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2412-markdown","title":"Cannabis is Successful as a Treatment for Heroin Addiction","slug":"cannabis-is-successful-as-a-treatment-for-heroin-addiction","content":"### Heroin Addiction: A Massive Epidemic\r\n\r\nAn opioid epidemic, which includes both over the counter opioids and other opioid derivatives like heroin, has swept across the country in recent years and is now at the top of the list of problems to solve for many states and the federal government. An astounding statistic has been uncovered as well; 80% of patients using heroin reported mis-using over the counter opioids prior to becoming addicted to heroin. Traditional approaches to heroin addiction in rehabilitation centers include behavioral therapies and a variety of medications, which often do not prevent the high number of relapses. \r\n\r\nFOLLOW US ON [FACEBOOK](https://www.facebook.com/pg/hellomdcompany/posts/) & [INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/hellomd_com/?hl=en)\r\n\r\nPrescription medications are an integral part of heroin addiction treatment in traditional rehabilitation centers. Medications like methadone and buprenorphine help with withdrawals and cravings and naltrexone helps block opioid receptors. Cannabis is now seen as a possible replacement for the harsher medications that ease people off heroin by reducing withdrawal symptoms and helping people control underlying conditions that brought them to use opioids in the first place. \r\n\r\n### Cannabis Used to Treat Opioid Addiction Successfully\r\n\r\nA [2014 study published in the journal JAMA](http://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/1898878) found a 25% drop in opioid overdose deaths in states that have legalized medical marijuana. The study looked at all 50 states between the years 1999 and 2010 and showed great promise for the ability of cannabis to become an alternative to opioids. \r\n\r\nRELATED: [MARIJUANA DOES NOT CAUSE OPIOID ADDICTION](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/marijuana-does-not-cause-opioid-addiction)\r\n\r\nSome doctors are now looking at how cannabis could help their patients who are addicted to opioids. Dr. Gary Witman, of CannaCare Docs in New England became one of the first to widely publicize the idea of using cannabis to help people with opioid addictions. The Massachusetts clinic where Dr. Witman is employed has treated 80 patients who suffer from pharmaceutical addictions. The one-month rehabilitation program proved successful for 75% of the patients in the study. \r\n\r\n### CBD a Preventative Key\r\n\r\nThough the evidence in the study conducted by Witman is only anecdotal, and looked at pharmaceutical opioids instead of heroin, it does demonstrate that cannabis may be able to help people find relief from their addictions. A rat modeled [study from 2009 that was published in the Journal of Neuroscience](http://www.jneurosci.org/content/29/47/14764?maxtoshow=&HITS=10&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&author1=Whittard&fulltext=cannabidiol&andorexactfulltext=and&searchid=1&FIRSTINDEX=0&sortspec=relevance&resourcetype=HWCIT) looked at the effects of CBD on heroin self administration and drug seeking behavior. Rats who were self dosing heroin, through a signaling system that prompted them to release heroin by pressing a button, did not stop heroin usage when given CBD (cannabidiol). \r\n\r\nWhat is remarkable however, is that rats who were in active recovery from heroin for two weeks and were dosed CBD, did not seek heroin when they were signaled. The study’s researchers concluded that,“CBD may be a potential treatment for heroin craving and relapse.” Though the study was rat modeled and very preliminary, it does show that cannabis has great promise as a treatment for heroin addiction. \r\n\r\n### The Endocannabinoid System and Addiction\r\n\r\nTHC also has the potential to help people with withdrawal symptoms as people are recovering from heroin addiction. The endocannabinoid system is strongly linked with the way opioids are processed and how they signal dependence. A [study from Drug and Alcohol Dependence](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26187456) in 2015 looked at the effects of Dronabinol, a synthetic form of THC, on the severity of opioid withdrawals. The study found that, “Dronabinol reduced the severity of opiate withdrawal during acute detoxification”.  Since THC interacts with the body in the same way as Dronabinol, cannabis may also be extremely effective at helping decrease the severity of withdrawal symptoms for patients. \r\n\r\nThough there are some gaps in professional research on the issue of cannabis being used to help people with heroin addiction, cannabis may be an extremely effective alternative to the medications already used to help people rid themselves of heroin addiction. Not to mention, cannabis has a great potential to replace the need for opioids because of its potent analgesic qualities. Though some researchers are skeptical of the possibility of cannabis as an effective part of heroin addiction treatment, a new treatment center in Los Angeles is now capitalizing on the idea. \r\n\r\n### Cannabis has no Lethal Dose\r\n\r\nThe High Sobriety treatment center focuses on “cannabis inclusive treatment” for people with all kinds of addictions, ranging from alcohol to heroin. High sobriety helps people detox from harsh drugs with the alternative of cannabis. [High Sobriety](http://www.laweekly.com/news/new-rehab-will-treat-drug-addiction-with-marijuana-7843077) describes their goal as to, “eliminate the risk of death from drug use. \r\n\r\nCocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, pharmaceuticals and other street drugs all have a lethal dose. Leading the death toll though, and killing more than all others combined, is alcohol. Cannabis has no known lethal dose. There is a simple truth; eliminating drugs with a lethal dose and using a drug with no lethal dose is a massive improvement, and will save lives. For generations we have been told that cannabis is a “gateway” drug, at High Sobriety, we believe it is an exit drug.”\r\n\r\n### A Controversial Subject\r\nThe center was founded by Joe Schrank, a recovered addict and drug treatment counselor who has worked at many different treatment centers throughout his life. Though the idea of using cannabis at a treatment center is still controversial, the center believes that cannabis can aid people with detoxification and can be an integral part of recovery.\r\n\r\nJoe Shrank says, “Our cannabis replacement protocol is in full compliance with law and under medical supervision. Cannabis is used for a variety of medical conditions as both treatment and symptomatic care. Cannabis can aid in the detox process, helping with discomfort, insomnia, and flu-like symptoms associated with the withdrawal process, reducing or eliminating the need for other drugs. After the initial detox, our doctor will provide a comprehensive and collaborative evaluation to determine an individual’s goals for recovery. The determination of how cannabis is used is ultimately made by the doctor, like any other medication. Post detox, cannabis continues to be an option under medical supervision.” \r\n\r\nHigh Sobriety will become an interesting study for how cannabis could aid people with a variety of addictions, including addictions to heroin, which are becoming an increasingly larger problem across the country and world. The detoxification potential of cannabis should not be ignored and hopefully all of the new information on the issue will prompt more studies that could potentially lead to life saving information for millions of people. \r\n\r\nIf you are new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's 100% online, private and efficient.  ","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"src":"/static/a63db0d17ed6494a42c2899b2b841035/14b42/b3ae0198927466d455159c5f8e67e6eb.jpg","srcSet":"/static/a63db0d17ed6494a42c2899b2b841035/f836f/b3ae0198927466d455159c5f8e67e6eb.jpg 200w,\n/static/a63db0d17ed6494a42c2899b2b841035/2244e/b3ae0198927466d455159c5f8e67e6eb.jpg 400w,\n/static/a63db0d17ed6494a42c2899b2b841035/14b42/b3ae0198927466d455159c5f8e67e6eb.jpg 800w,\n/static/a63db0d17ed6494a42c2899b2b841035/47498/b3ae0198927466d455159c5f8e67e6eb.jpg 1200w,\n/static/a63db0d17ed6494a42c2899b2b841035/54ac5/b3ae0198927466d455159c5f8e67e6eb.jpg 1365w","srcWebp":"/static/a63db0d17ed6494a42c2899b2b841035/58556/b3ae0198927466d455159c5f8e67e6eb.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/a63db0d17ed6494a42c2899b2b841035/61e93/b3ae0198927466d455159c5f8e67e6eb.webp 200w,\n/static/a63db0d17ed6494a42c2899b2b841035/1f5c5/b3ae0198927466d455159c5f8e67e6eb.webp 400w,\n/static/a63db0d17ed6494a42c2899b2b841035/58556/b3ae0198927466d455159c5f8e67e6eb.webp 800w,\n/static/a63db0d17ed6494a42c2899b2b841035/99238/b3ae0198927466d455159c5f8e67e6eb.webp 1200w,\n/static/a63db0d17ed6494a42c2899b2b841035/5e0b8/b3ae0198927466d455159c5f8e67e6eb.webp 1365w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2217-markdown","title":"Cannabis Treats Heroin Addiction Successfully","slug":"cannabis-treats-heroin-addiction-successfully","content":"### Opioids & Heroin\r\n\r\nAccording to the Center for Disease Control, [opioids, including heroin, were responsible for more than](http://www.cbsnews.com/news/opioid-overdose-patients-continue-to-get-meds/) 28,600 deaths in 2014 and 61% of all overdose related deaths. \r\n\r\nHeroin is a growing problem in the United States and it is popping up everywhere from city streets to once quiet American suburbs. Often heroin addiction is caused by an addiction developed while taking prescription opioids, but heroin is then turned to as a much cheaper alternative to prescription opioids. \r\n\r\nHeroin is just one component of the opioid epidemic that is plaguing America. Only about half of people with addictions fully recover from their disease and do not resort back to using. In some cases, we see even higher rates of relapse for people with opioid addictions, meaning finding new approaches to ridding our country of widespread heroin addiction is essential. \r\n\r\n### Why Cannabis\r\n\r\nA survey carried out by [Amanda Reiman out of UC Berkley found](http://phys.org/news/2009-12-cannabis-booze-britain-problems.html# jCp) some of the main reasons patients at Berkley Patient Group, a medical marijuana dispensary, took cannabis. The results showed that  there was less withdrawal with cannabis compared to other illicit drugs, less adverse effects when taking cannabis compared to other drugs, and it provided them with the best symptom management for their various medical conditions. \r\n\r\nIf patients are choosing cannabis for better symptom relief qualities, then it is clear that access to medical marijuana could prevent some problematic addictions in the long run. Cannabis, however, might prove effective at helping people heal from their already present addictions as well.\r\n\r\n### Cannabis Quells Symptoms\r\n\r\nSome states are looking to cannabis to help rid them of their growing heroin addiction problems. Maine is considering adding opioid and heroin addiction to the list of conditions that apply for medical marijuana. Since one of the most common routes into heroine addiction is prescription opioid abuse, usually prescribed legally for pain, it is thought that since marijuana has shown great efficacy at treating chronic pain, it could dramatically decrease the need for opioids in the first place. \r\n\r\n[Massachusetts also has a pilot program](http://www.drugfree.org/news-service/opioid-addiction-treated-medical-marijuana-massachusetts/) of opioid addicts being treated with medical marijuana. Dr. Gary Witman of CannaCare Doctors attempted to treat about 80 patients who were addicted to opioids, anti-anxiety medications, and muscle relaxers with cannabis over the course of a one month period. Three fourths of the patients stopped taking the harder drugs that they had previously been addicted to because cannabis adequately quelled their symptoms. \r\n\r\n### Cannabis Replaces Other Drugs\r\n\r\nA 2009 study published in the Harm Reduction Journal found that cannabis could be effective at treating alcoholism. Out of 350 cannabis users, 40% used cannabis to quell alcohol cravings, 66% used it as a replacement for prescriptions drugs, and 26% used it as a replacement for illicit drugs, in all of the cases cannabis was an effective alternative to what each patient had previously been taking. \r\n\r\n[A 2013 study](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24069004) by the National Institute of Health, which was conducted by the Psychiatry Research Unit in Montreal, Canada found that cannabinoids are able to alter the bodies reward system. The study found that the endocannabinoid system may be crucial in addiction treatment because it is closely tied with various neurological and behavioral aspects of addiction. Since cannabis acts on the endocannabinoid receptors in the body, it is believed that cannabis could be effective at helping people with addictions. \r\n\r\n[Another study](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3742578/) from 2013, which was published in NueroScience, found that targeting the endocannbinoid system in people who have opioid addictions could be a novel pathway for the treatment of addiction. Cannabinoids and opioids work on similar pathways in the body, so supplementing the body with cannabis could possibly alleviate up to seventy of the withdrawal symptoms associated with halted opioid use. [A 2009 study](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2829756/), which was also published in the Journal of NueroScience, found that CBD specifically could be a potential treatment for heroine addicts. This was shown in an experimental rat model where CBD decreased heroine seeking behavior. \r\n\r\n### Stopping Addictions Before They Happen\r\n\r\nMedical marijuana could be the key to both alleviating heroin addiction and to preventing more addictions from developing. Multiple studies have proved both the efficacy of medical marijuana in helping with chronic pain, which is the most common reason that opioids are prescribed to patients. If medical marijuana is accessible to more people, it could prevent people who may have addictive tendencies from getting prescribed opioids in the first place. \r\n\r\nSince opioids are highly addictive, simply reducing the number of opioid prescriptions is a crucial aspect to reducing the number of opioid addictions. Preliminary studies have also shown that medical marijuana could provide relief from heroin addiction. More studies are needed to prove the efficacy of cannabis as a treatment for addiction, but with multiple states considering adding addiction to the list of approved medical conditions for medical cannabis use means we could see more evidence in the near future. \r\n\r\nDo you have questions about about cannabis? Ask a question on [HelloMD's new Answers](https://www.hellomd.com/ feature). A doctor or member of our community will answer.\r\n\r\nIf you are new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's 100% online, private and efficient.\r\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"src":"/static/d7db765b1215bf7c2c7504318a20ae1f/14b42/08a7cdd570f7ccf3fa7d41d43583274f.jpg","srcSet":"/static/d7db765b1215bf7c2c7504318a20ae1f/f836f/08a7cdd570f7ccf3fa7d41d43583274f.jpg 200w,\n/static/d7db765b1215bf7c2c7504318a20ae1f/2244e/08a7cdd570f7ccf3fa7d41d43583274f.jpg 400w,\n/static/d7db765b1215bf7c2c7504318a20ae1f/14b42/08a7cdd570f7ccf3fa7d41d43583274f.jpg 800w,\n/static/d7db765b1215bf7c2c7504318a20ae1f/47498/08a7cdd570f7ccf3fa7d41d43583274f.jpg 1200w,\n/static/d7db765b1215bf7c2c7504318a20ae1f/54ac5/08a7cdd570f7ccf3fa7d41d43583274f.jpg 1365w","srcWebp":"/static/d7db765b1215bf7c2c7504318a20ae1f/58556/08a7cdd570f7ccf3fa7d41d43583274f.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/d7db765b1215bf7c2c7504318a20ae1f/61e93/08a7cdd570f7ccf3fa7d41d43583274f.webp 200w,\n/static/d7db765b1215bf7c2c7504318a20ae1f/1f5c5/08a7cdd570f7ccf3fa7d41d43583274f.webp 400w,\n/static/d7db765b1215bf7c2c7504318a20ae1f/58556/08a7cdd570f7ccf3fa7d41d43583274f.webp 800w,\n/static/d7db765b1215bf7c2c7504318a20ae1f/99238/08a7cdd570f7ccf3fa7d41d43583274f.webp 1200w,\n/static/d7db765b1215bf7c2c7504318a20ae1f/5e0b8/08a7cdd570f7ccf3fa7d41d43583274f.webp 1365w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}}]}},"pageContext":{"limit":12,"skip":0,"numPages":1,"currentPage":1,"id":5339,"name":"Heroin","slug":"heroin","country":"US"}},"staticQueryHashes":["3949754563","4179947113","4202924991"]}