The growth in heroin use in recent years is helping spur use of narcotics with similar properties, such as fentanyl and methadone. In 2013, methadone was the leading cause of prescription overdose deaths in Kent County. Nationwide, it accounted for nearly one-third of all fatal overdoses – a six-fold increase over the last 10 years… Methadone and fentanyl are relatively inexpensive. And with the cost of heroin rising because of demand, people are looking for a cheap alternative.
You will never see a headline about anyone dying from cannabis (only). And the growth in heroin use is because of the DEA’s war against prescription medications, thanks so much. But the DEA has reported that heroin is the cheapest drug available on the street, alleging that pain patients are switching to heroin because of the price and decreased access to prescription medications. Those who use illegal heroin don’t have to pay a doctor to prescribe it for them, keeping the cost very low, while methadone requires expensive visits to the doctor — unless the methadone being used on the street is coming from other sources, like Mexico.
However, states are forcing pain patients on Medicaid to use methadone because it’s the cheapest pain medication, which explains the increased number of overdose deaths attributed to this drug. So, it appears that the states, in trying to save money, have actually created these problems. And it’s very hard to believe that fentanyl is cheaper than heroin or methadone.
All Things Chronic 