Heroin addiction treatment

Heroin Treatment in Texas

Heroin is a considerable threat to the state of Texas. Mexican black tar and Mexican brown powder form of heroin are the main types available throughout the state; however, South American, Southeast Asian, and Southwest Asian heroin is available in limited quantities. Mexican DTOs and organized criminal groups dictate the transportation and wholesale distribution of Mexican black tar and brown heroin.

Heroin abuse is a huge concern to Police and law enforcement agencies throughout the state of Texas. In response to the NDTS 2002, 13 percent of the 150 law enforcement agents in Texas who rated the level of heroin abuse in their jurisdictions reported high rates of serious addiction, 31 percent reported medium range levels, and 55 percent spoke of low levels of abuse of the drug.

Heroin is brought into the United States from foreign country sources of opium. Production of heroin occurs in South America, Mexico, Southeast and Southwest Asia. Nationwide, during the year 2000, South American heroin in price ranged from $50,000 to $200,000 per kilogram. Southeast and Southwest Asian heroin ranged in price from $40,000 to $190,000 per kilogram. Wholesale-level prices range for Mexican heroin were the lowest of any type, ranging from $13,200 to $175,000 per kilogram. The wide range in kilogram prices reflects variables such as buyer/seller relationships, quantities purchased, purchase frequencies, purity, and transportation costs.

During 2000, there were approximately 146,000 new heroin users in the U.S. The average age of those who first used heroin during 2000 was 22.3 years. According to the 2001 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, approximately 3.1 million (1.4 percent) Americans age 12 or older had tried the drug at least once in their lifetime, 456,000 (0.2 percent) used heroin in the past year, and 123,000 (0.1 percent) reported past month heroin use. Results from the 2002 Monitoring the Future Study show that 1.6% of 8th graders, 1.8% of 10th graders, and 1.7% of 12th graders surveyed reported using heroin at least once during their lifetimes.

Maternal Effect: 
Heroin abuse can cause important complications during pregnancy, such as miscarriage and premature delivery. Kids born to addicted mothers are at more elevated risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome), as well.