129 Americans die every day from a drug overdose and the vast majority of them are the result of an opiate addiction. Prescription painkillers and heroin now kill more people than car accidents and guns. A new ABC documentary, Breaking Point: Heroin in America, takes an eye-opening look at this epidemic.
The Opiate Epidemic
Opiate addiction began to rise in the 90s and early 2000s when doctors began prescribing prescription painkillers more frequently to help individuals cope with chronic pain. Unfortunately, this practice led many people to become dependent on the substances and seek out more or stronger alternatives, such as morphine and heroin.
In the United States, the spread of opiate addiction and abuse is so prevalent that the U.S. government determined it to be a national crisis. While the opiate addiction adversely affects the federal government, it trickles down all the way to American homes and individual lives. Not only do the people who use opiates suffer and struggle through their addictions, but their families suffer as well.
The new ABC documentary delves into the lives of people who struggle with opiate addiction as well as those around them. They look at how it affects individuals, homes, families, and entire neighborhoods.
New ABC Documentary “Breaking Point: Heroin in America”
ABC Anchor David Muir takes a deep look into the depth of the opiate epidemic and its effect on suburban neighborhoods across the country. This problem has no boundaries and is fueled by the pervasiveness of prescription painkiller abuse in the U.S. 80 percent of heroin users start with abusing painkillers.
It interviews numerous parents that have lost their children, young parents who are struggling to get clean for their children, and struggling youth in the community. These children were even being shown how to prevent overdose deaths by learning how to administer the overdose reversal drug, Narcan.
This documentary reveals that addiction doesn’t discriminate. Regardless of race, age, socioeconomic class, or gender, opiate addiction affects everyone.
Morningside Recovery Opiate Addiction Treatment
Morningside Recovery is among the leading opiate addiction treatment providers in the country and offers various services for patients struggling with addiction and co-occurring mental health disorders. We offer 12 step recovery based and alternative treatment options like SMART Recovery. If you or a loved one are struggling with addiction and need help, please don’t hesitate to call. You can reach us anytime at 855-631-2135. Our treatment specialists will assist you in finding the right treatment option for you.
