Is Heroin Use Skyrocketing In Atlanta Suburbs?

According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, heroin use may be rising, particularly in the affluent suburbs of Atlanta. The story cites several instances of heroin addiction leading to lethal overdoses and questions whether or not the problem is growing. Many other major cities across the nation have also seen a jump in heroin related deaths and many others also attribute the rise to former prescription drug addicts seeking a more intense high.

The AJC profiles three young men who died within a month of each other. They all knew each other and had all gone to the same middle school. They were typical teenagers who experimented with alcohol and pot but unlike the typical teens, they moved on to heroin.

Heroin is cheaper than prescription drugs and people sometimes turn to this more potent alternative when the prescriptions like oxycodone get too expensive, difficult to find, or simply not strong enough to satisfy their addition.

All three young men died. All three were from the ‘burbs. And while this could be evidence of a growing trend, it could also be an anomaly. The AJC article doesn’t provide any statistics to back their suggestion that heroin use is up at alarming rates around the suburbs of Atlanta.

Other cities have seen increases in emergency room visits and heroin addicts entering treatment. The same could be happening here, though the figures aren’t documented.

Heroin is much cheaper than prescription drugs, often costing around $15 for an intense hit, while some pills can be $30 to $80 a piece. For young adults, this is a fortune and the cheaper alternative offers a better buy.

Under Georgia law, heroin is a Schedule I drug. This is the most dangerous and addictive classification for controlled substances. If you are caught in possession of heroin and it is your first offense, you could face 2 to 15 years in prison.

Unfortunately, an arrest is sometimes the only thing that can stop an addict from spiraling any further. Occasionally an arrest provides someone with access to treatment they wouldn’t normally accept.

If you are facing drug charges and you need help, there are options available. You could be eligible to attend treatment and a period of probation instead of incarceration. Contact us today to discuss your case and what options might be available to you.