Research should be 5-7 Pages
Introduction
One of the greatest problems affecting the United States today is drug abuse and addiction. Among the various substances abused, the opiate heroin remains a primary concern in the country. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), over 2.1 million people in the United States were suffering from heroin-use disorder in 2015 (“What is heroin?”). Pennsylvania is one of the states that has been significantly impacted by the heroin epidemic. In 2016, it had the sixth-highest rate of drug overdoses in the country, representing a 20.1% increase from the previous year (National Institutes of Health). In Norristown, Pennsylvania, heroin addiction remains a major problem with serious social, health and economic implications. This research paper seeks to explore the heroin addiction treatment in Norristown, Pennsylvania by exploring local statistics about rehab programs, disorders, and facts.
Demographics
Norristown is the county seat of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. It is a small town situated 15 miles northwest of Philadelphia. According to the United States Census Bureau, Norristown had a population of 34,324 people in 2016 (“QuickFacts, Norristown, Pennsylvania”). The median household income in Norristown was $42,387 in 2016 with a per capita income of $21,510. The poverty rate in Norristown was 24.4%, slightly higher than the national average of 12.3%. The town has a diverse population with 65.7% being White, 17.6% being African American, 5.4% Asian, and 14.8% coming from other races (“QuickFacts, Norristown, Pennsylvania”). The median age in Norristown was 32.1 years, with 59.9% of the population being between ages 18-64 and 12.2% over the age of 65.
Substance Abuse Treatment Programs in Norristown, Pennsylvania
Substance abuse treatment programs are an essential part of Norristown, Pennsylvania’s efforts to combat heroin addiction in the town. Approximately 2.1 million Americans are estimated to have a substance abuse disorder that involves the use of opioids, including heroin (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). Several healthcare systems in Norristown have established substance abuse treatment programs for individuals suffering from heroin addiction in the town.
1. Einstein Addiction Recovery Center (EARC)
Einstein Addiction Recovery Center is an outpatient addiction recovery program that uses medication-assisted treatment (MAT) to help those struggling with opioid and heroin abuse (Einstein Medical Center Montgomery). EARC is based in Norristown, Pennsylvania and offers services such as medication management, individual and group counseling, and education to promote addiction recovery. The services offered at the EARC are designed to bring about long-term behavioral and cognitive changes to treat heroin addiction.
2. Malvern Institute
Malvern Institute is an inpatient rehab based in Malvern, Pennsylvania, which offers detox and stabilization services for heroin addicts (Malvern Institute). The services at Malvern Institute combine evidence-based practices with a holistic approach to bring about long-term recovery from addiction.
3. Catharsis Productions
Catharsis Productions is an intervention program aimed at preventing heroin addiction among young people. It is focused on educating young people on topics such as violence, dating, and mental health, which can significantly influence their susceptibility to heroin addiction (Catharsis Productions).
Heroin Addiction Disorders Statistics in Norristown, Pennsylvania
1. Co-occurring disorders
Co-occurring disorders refer to the existence of both a substance use disorder and another mental health disorder. In 2017, of the 672 individuals who admitted to receive substance abuse treatment in Norristown, 50.9%, had a co-occurring disorder (Pennsylvania Co-occurring State Profile). This statistic highlights the prevalence of mental health disorders among the individuals suffering from heroin addiction in Norristown. Therefore, treatment of these disorders is crucial in managing heroin addiction.
2. Overdose and death statistics
The opioid epidemic has led to a sharp increase in the number of heroin overdose cases and deaths in Norristown, Pennsylvania. In 2015, there were 275 deaths due to heroin overdose in Montgomery County (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). In 2017, the number of overdose deaths rose to 312 people representing a 13.5% increase. In Pennsylvania, the death toll from drug overdoses hit a record high of 4,642 in 2016 (Pennsylvania Co-occurring State Profile).
3. Treatment admissions by sex and age
The majority of substance abuse treatment admissions in Norristown are male, according to information from the Pennsylvania Co-occurring State Profile. In 2017, there were 375 males and 297 females admitted for substance abuse treatment in Norristown, representing a 55.8% to 44.2% ratio. More than 26% of admissions were persons between the age of
18 and 24 years old while 44% of admissions were aged between 25 and 34.
4. New individuals admitted for heroin addiction
The number of new individuals being admitted to substance abuse treatment programs for heroin addiction has been increasing in recent years in Norristown. In 2015, there were 456 new admissions to substance abuse treatment in Norristown. In 2016, this number increased to 534 individuals representing a 17.1% increase. This statistic highlights the increasing trend of heroin addiction in Norristown.
Conclusion
The heroin addiction treatment process in Norristown, Pennsylvania is multidimensional due to the diverse nature of heroin addiction. Substance abuse treatment programs are vital in addressing heroin addiction in Norristown. However, local statistics reflect the need for more treatment programs to deal with the rising number of heroin addicts in the town. In addition, there is a need to address co-occurring disorders and put in place measures to address the high rates of overdose and death resulting from heroin addiction.
Works Cited
“QuickFacts, Norristown, Pennsylvania.” United States Census Bureau, 2016, www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/norristownboroughpennsylvania/PST045216. Accessed 03 Mar. 2019.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Drug overdose deaths, 2015.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2015, www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/data/statedeaths.html. Accessed 03 Mar. 2019.
Catharsis Productions. “What We Do.” Catharsis Productions, www.catharsisproductions.com/what-we-do. Accessed 03 Mar. 2019.
Einstein Medical Center Montgomery. “Einstein Addiction Recovery Center.” Einstein Medical Center Montgomery, www.einstein.edu/addiction-treatment/einstein-addiction-recovery-center.html. Accessed 03 Mar. 2019.
Malvern Institute. “Our Method.” Malvern Institute, www.malverninstitute.com/our-method/. Accessed 03 Mar. 2019.
National Institutes of Health. “Pennsylvania Completes Overdose Death Data Collection for More Than 50,000 Pennsylvania Residents.” National Institutes of Health, 2017, www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/pennsylvania-completes-overdose-death-data-collection-more-50000-pennsylvania-residents. Accessed 03 Mar. 2019.
“Pennsylvania Co-Occurring State Profile.” Behavioral Health Barometer, 2017, www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/PA2017.pdf. Accessed 03 Mar. 2019.
National Institute on Drug Abuse. “What is heroin?” National Institute on Drug Abuse, Aug. 2018, www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/heroin. Accessed 03 Mar. 2019.