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(Health-NewsWire.Net, August 26, 2015 ) Nashville, TN -- According to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Tennessee's uninsured combined with high rates of prescribed painkillers have contributed to the state's rise in heroin addiction and overdoses.
Within the past few months, Middle Tennessee headlines have been flooded with heroin-related incidents including stories of needles being left near a baby's crib to bags of heroin being stuffed into a flashlight to overdoses happening due to fentanyl, a more powerful opioid drug. According top the report from the CDC, about 75 percent of heroin users initially became hooked on prescription opioid drugs. Currently, Tennessee ties with Alabama for having the most painkiller prescriptions per 100 people, at 143 prescriptions. Statewide, the amount of times in which law enforcement has seized heroin has increased by 680 percent over the past seven years, according to data from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.
Heroin has especially become a growing issue in Davidson County, where the number of people seeking assistance in state-funded treatment centers have nearly tripled between 2012 and 2014. As far as overdoses, in 2012 there were 38 and 44 in 2013, just in Davidson County, according to TBI reports.
Reports also discovered that people who are uninsured and those on Medicaid are susceptible to heroin addiction due to the substance offering a cheaper alternative to filling expensive prescriptions. Other groups susceptible to heroin addiction includes me, people aged 18 to 25, mon-Hispanic whites, and those with a $20,000 annual income or lower.
Despite the issue of heroin use in Tennessee, the state has been making significant progress in its fight against heroin use in 2013 when a 36 percent drop in patients seeking prescription painkiller drugs. This drop was a result of legislation being passed in 2012 for prescribers to check the state's prescription drug monitoring program before writing prescriptions for painkillers, the CDC has deemed this as a success and useful practice.
The CDC recommends for all states to continue implementing strategies in addition to improving access and insurance coverage for medication-assisted treatment for painkiller abuse.
A medical associate from Drug Rehab Nashville comments "While it is true that prescription drug abuse and heroin abuse are major issues within our state, the state has done a lot to help fight against substance abuse and it's slowly but surely working. I think if the state continues to press through the end result will be well worth the effort. "
Drug Rehab Nashville is a leading heroin rehab in Nashville, TN which provides it patients with comprehensive treatment to successfully end addiction and prevent relapse. The center is medically monitored 24/7 and staffed by a supportive team of medical professionals and addiction specialists.
To gather additional information on the addiction treatment services provided at Drug Rehab Nashville, visit their website at http://drugrehabnashville.org/ or call the center directly at (615) 348-5866.
About Drug Rehab Nashville:
Drug Rehab Nashville is a luxury rehab center which provides its clientele with high quality treatment at an affordable price.
Drug Rehab Nashville
Drug Rehab Nashville Drug Rehab Nashville
(615) 348-5866
info@drugrehabnashville.org
Source: EmailWire.Com 
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