Drug Epidemic Spreading and Causing Deaths Throughout New England Area

Heroin, an opiate drug that is derived from morphine, has caused increases in drug abuse across the United States, particularly on the East Coast and in the New England area in recent years.

Rural towns in the New England area have witnessed rising numbers of drug-abuse cases. Maine Governor Paul LePage and Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin have expressed the fact that they're fed up when it comes to the war on drugs. Heroin and painkiller abuse affects hundreds of infants each year, and LePage wants to invest money into adding 14 new drug enforcement agents. This $3 million proposal shouldn't be an issue for the state budget committee.

In his address last week, Governor LePage mentioned that the number of birthed babies affected by drugs increased from 160 in 2005 to over 900 last year, approximately 7% of births in Maine. In Vermont, the state health department has reported a tenfold increase in the number of babies treated for opiate withdrawal syndrome since 2002. Governor Shumlin wants to increase funding to immediately admit addicts into treatment facilities instead of having some placed on waiting lists.

The narcotic has also dramatically affected New Hampshire. Last year, 61 people died of a heroin overdose in the state, which is a 60% increase from the year before. Additionally, the state's rate of birthed babies affected by drugs is 59% higher than the U.S. average. Maggie Hassan, the Governor of New Hampshire, also acknowledged this issue in her State of the State address. Her state has one of the highest rates of alcohol and drug abuse in the country, yet they rank at the bottom in accessing and providing treatment.

Treatment for heroin abuse and addiction is crucial to controlling epidemics. Withdrawals from the drug are particularly intense and include extreme pain, insomnia, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, which make it easy for drug users to abandon their attempt to stop using the drug. Governor Shumlin's call for an increase in funding to support treatment facilities and programs is perhaps one of the most important measures to mitigate the heroin issue.

To read more about heroin and its epidemic in New England, visit this Boston Globe article as well as this Live Science article.