Heroin addiction treatment

Heroin Treatment in Washington

Heroin is becoming a significant problem to Washington, mainly in larger cities such as Seattle, Tacoma, and Yakima. The substance is readily available, and heroin use is a major problem. Violence linked with heroin distribution and consumption is a concern to police and enforcement officials. Mexican black tar heroin is the main type available in the state of Washington.

Heroin addiction is a growing problem in the state of Washington, particularly in larger cities such as Seattle, Tacoma, and Yakima. According to the Washington Division of Alcohol and Substance Abuse, the rate of rehab admissions for heroin abuse to government funded treatment centers increased each year from 2,083 in SFY1994 to 3,664 in SFY2000, then decreased to 3,172 in SFY2001. Admission numbers per 100,000 in population also went up each year from 39 to 62.2 in SFY2000, then lowered to 53.1 in SFY2001. According to TEDS information, the number of heroin-related patient admissions to publicly funded facilities in the state of Washington increased each year from 6,118 in 1997 to 6,889 in 1999, then went down to 5,965 in 2001.

One of the most feared drug cocktail is the speedball--the combination of heroin and cocaine. Speedballs are extremely dangerous, but the harm caused by them seems to be due mainly to the cocaine. Cocaine increases blood pressure and can cause heart-attacks.

Out of the 11,651 deaths. accidental and intentional by way of suicide... reported to DAWN by medical examiners for the year of 1999, the most recent year for which complete statistics are available, 4,820 were the result of heroin or morphine abuse, or some combination of those and other substances.