Heroin Overdose Research Paper

Drug overdoses have become a major issue in today’s society. Many believe that taking drugs would help them ease of pain or stress. It is very easy to become addicted to a drug and fall into an overdose. In fact drug overdoses are more deadly than falling, guns, and car accidents. In the media today Heroin is a common topic. It has become a popular go to drug that has resulted in many overdoes and deaths. Heroin overdoses are affecting many communities and one of them being my own. By becoming a part of Skills USA my team and I work together to address the growing heroin overdose issue in the community. In order to tackle the growing epidemic background information and connections had to be made. Phil Lahey of the Merrimack Valley Prevention and Substance Abuse Project came to my school to spread awareness of the heroin epidemic. …show more content…
I believe that schools are not giving students enough information on the dangers of drugs. A major part of this project was to provide students with this information. Research on Heroin was conducted to further understand the drug. A local after school organization for kids called Movement City played a major part of this project. Students from the ages of 10 – 18 were provided a presentation on the drug and all of the harmful effects that it brings to many of its users. The students all participated in various activities that simulated some of the withdrawal symptoms of heroin. One activity that students took part in the saltine cracker challenge to stimulate the dry mouth caused from heroin withdrawal. Students also experienced how the drug impairs ones vision buy using goggles with the lenses covered in Vaseline and asked to walk in a straight line. This was a real eye opener for the students because they realized how this growing epidemic is hitting a lot closer to home. Students were shocked by the information given and believed that this epidemic needed to