Bryce Ahaus
ENG 101-12
Dr.Milne
11/23/16
The Epidemic Killing Indiana Heroine abuse has become a major problem in America, and specifically rural Indiana. I am from a small town in Indiana, and it is located in Dearborn County. My family has lost a close family friend and many people in our local area has been affected by it. It is an obvious issue here and is covered by Josh Keller and Adam Pearce in a NY Times article where they say “While crack cocaine addiction is centered in cities, opioid and meth addiction are ravaging small communities like Dearborn County.” (Keller, Pearce). There have been many mornings when listening to the local radio I heard about three or four overdoses in one night. Dearborn County is trying to fight this problem …show more content…
HIV is caused by heroin because the needles used to do heroin usually are not sterile, leading to bacteria getting into the user’s bloodstream. HIV is a disease that affects the body’s immune system, leading to even more deadly disease AIDs. “…the arrests of 32 suspects in connection to a growing drug problem that has caused a sharp rise in HIV cases.” (Wise). This shows a direct correlation to heroin problem as well as the HIV problem plaguing Indiana. HIV is being created by heroin users using the same dirty needles and sharing them with other addicted heroin users. One major issue with this is that HIV can be spread many others way than just by needle use, such as unprotected sex and blood transfusions. If one person in a small town gets an HIV infection, it can spread like a wildfire. This problem causes issues because small and rural towns do not have a lot of funding to treat those infected with HIV. “Scott County Sheriff Dan McClain said his jail is currently housing two inmates who are HIV-positive…treatment costs $2,000 per month per inmate.” (Wise). Mentioned before it was said that 32 people had been arrested in the growing drug and HIV problem. If all of those 32 people were to be infected with HIV, it would cost the prison $64,000 a month just to treat these people, let alone just how much it costs to keep them in prison. This could obviously spiral way out of control for a small rural community who does not …show more content…
Those were a clean needle clinic, to provide clean needles and at least slow down the HIV infections. The other was the harsh prison sentences for heroin dealing and usage in Dearborn County. While these are very good steps to help prevent usage and the spread of HIV, more still needs to be done. The people living in these rural communities need to be more educated and informed on the heroin epidemic they may unknowingly be facing. “The response has included a public education campaign…as well as substance abuse counseling and treatment.” (Conrad). These are the steps that one county took to raise awareness. This is great progress forward, and should be available in every county, even required by the state for heroin addicts. There needs to be more options open to the public besides fear mongering and promoting it by supply free and clean needles. These people are addicted and sometimes all they need or want is an encouraging word or a little counseling to beat their deadly addiction. The extreme prison sentences have just resulted in resentment from the people for the criminal justice system and their local police force, instead of trying to sway them away from starting to use heroin. Instead of using brute force, these counties should try to come together as communities and support
ENG 101-12
Dr.Milne
11/23/16
The Epidemic Killing Indiana Heroine abuse has become a major problem in America, and specifically rural Indiana. I am from a small town in Indiana, and it is located in Dearborn County. My family has lost a close family friend and many people in our local area has been affected by it. It is an obvious issue here and is covered by Josh Keller and Adam Pearce in a NY Times article where they say “While crack cocaine addiction is centered in cities, opioid and meth addiction are ravaging small communities like Dearborn County.” (Keller, Pearce). There have been many mornings when listening to the local radio I heard about three or four overdoses in one night. Dearborn County is trying to fight this problem …show more content…
HIV is caused by heroin because the needles used to do heroin usually are not sterile, leading to bacteria getting into the user’s bloodstream. HIV is a disease that affects the body’s immune system, leading to even more deadly disease AIDs. “…the arrests of 32 suspects in connection to a growing drug problem that has caused a sharp rise in HIV cases.” (Wise). This shows a direct correlation to heroin problem as well as the HIV problem plaguing Indiana. HIV is being created by heroin users using the same dirty needles and sharing them with other addicted heroin users. One major issue with this is that HIV can be spread many others way than just by needle use, such as unprotected sex and blood transfusions. If one person in a small town gets an HIV infection, it can spread like a wildfire. This problem causes issues because small and rural towns do not have a lot of funding to treat those infected with HIV. “Scott County Sheriff Dan McClain said his jail is currently housing two inmates who are HIV-positive…treatment costs $2,000 per month per inmate.” (Wise). Mentioned before it was said that 32 people had been arrested in the growing drug and HIV problem. If all of those 32 people were to be infected with HIV, it would cost the prison $64,000 a month just to treat these people, let alone just how much it costs to keep them in prison. This could obviously spiral way out of control for a small rural community who does not …show more content…
Those were a clean needle clinic, to provide clean needles and at least slow down the HIV infections. The other was the harsh prison sentences for heroin dealing and usage in Dearborn County. While these are very good steps to help prevent usage and the spread of HIV, more still needs to be done. The people living in these rural communities need to be more educated and informed on the heroin epidemic they may unknowingly be facing. “The response has included a public education campaign…as well as substance abuse counseling and treatment.” (Conrad). These are the steps that one county took to raise awareness. This is great progress forward, and should be available in every county, even required by the state for heroin addicts. There needs to be more options open to the public besides fear mongering and promoting it by supply free and clean needles. These people are addicted and sometimes all they need or want is an encouraging word or a little counseling to beat their deadly addiction. The extreme prison sentences have just resulted in resentment from the people for the criminal justice system and their local police force, instead of trying to sway them away from starting to use heroin. Instead of using brute force, these counties should try to come together as communities and support