Heroin addiction treatment

Heroin Treatment in Wisconsin

The rising presence and abuse of Southeast Asian (SEA) and South American (SA) heroin are large problems, particularly in the Milwaukee region. Milwaukee is a major destination for heroin in the state of Wisconsin and it is a shipment point for various types of heroin en-route to other Wisconsin cities. Nigerian and Dominican heroin traffickers mainly use privately acquired vehicles to take the heroin into the state.

Heroin abuse is growing in the state of Wisconsin. Although the Wisconsin DNE reports that not many drug units show heroin as an increasing problem, the state of Wisconsin Department of Justice predicts that heroin will continue to become more prominent and its availability may extend to new areas throughout the state. Most heroin abuse is focused in the Milwaukee and Racine regions; however, in a 2000 DNE report, 15 percent of Wisconsin State counties reported heroin as an growing problem.

Almost three-fourths of all documented heroin-related deaths in the state of Wisconsin in 1999 occurred in Milwaukee. A 2000 report by the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's office shows a record high number of deaths were caused by heroin abuse in the county in 2000--a 75 percent increase from 1999 to be exact.  Heroin deaths continue to ascend in other areas of the state of Wisconsin as well. A Dane County Narcotics Task Force detective said that the number of heroin overdoses in Dane County more than doubled between 1999 and 2000.

How do I stop using heroin?

It is an absolute necessity to change your lifestyle.

Do not go out with or associate with the same people that are using.

Do not go to the same places that you are using heroin.

Find new activities to keep you busy now that you are not using heroin

Develop friendships with non-using individuals.

Make plans for your free time so you are not bored and thinking about using drugs.

Determine what you consider risky situations/feelings/thoughts that could cause you to use again (for example: "one last time", or feeling lonely, or having a lot of money and the opportunity to buy some heroin). Try to find alternatives for all these situations that act as a trigger.

Think of what you can do when you feel the need to use. Try to list as many alternative solutions as possible, for example, take a shower, exercise, call a friend. The bottom line is finding a distraction.