Andy’s Angels

Creating Awareness Working with families on how to cope Working with addicts to make positive

changes in life and to seek out treatment Providing assistance to those who cannot

afford rehabilitation Continue to work with families and

addicts during and after the recovery process

Who is Andy’s Angels and how we are helping others?

Opiates are narcotics derived from Opium Can be produced naturally or synthetically Act as depressants in the Central Nervous

System Alleviate pain and produce feelings of

euphoria Highly Addictive Oxycontin, Percocet, Vicodin, Fentanyl,

Demerol, Morphine, Hydrocodone, Heroin

What are Opiates?

1810 Morphine is developed as a Painkiller 1850s Morphine is used to treat pain and is

available over the counter 1860s Thousands of soldiers returning home

from Civil War are morphine addicts 1874 Heroin is developed in place of

morphine to cure people of their morphine addiction. It was considered safe and non addictive

1870s-1900s Heroin is packaged and given to adults and children as freely as aspirin today

History of Opiates

1911 Bristish Pharmaceutical Codex publishes Heroin as addictive

1913 Bayer ceases producing Heroin 1920 Congress implements Dangerous

Drug Act which no longer allows Heroin to be sold over the counter

1924 Heroin Epidemic leads Congress to pass the Heroin Act making possession and sale illegal

1995 Oxycontin is introduced for terminal cancer patients only

History of Opiates Cont’d

We depend on our brain’s ability to release dopamin, and endorphin, in order to experience pleasure and motivate our responses to everyday life

Opiates produce very large and rapid dopamine surges and the brain responds by reducing normal dopamine activity and over time ceases production altogether

The ability to experience any pleasure is reduced and causes depression and lifelessness.

How Opiates Manipulate the Brain

1995 Purdue Pharma introduces Oxycontin for terminally ill cancer patients

2001 Congress declares a “Decade of Pain Control” and encourages doctors to treat all patients for pain

300 million prescriptions for opiates are written which is enough for every adult American to be medicated around the clock for one month

US consumes 80% of all of the worlds supply of opiates

Oxycontin is Introduced

2007 plead guilty for “intent to defraud public”

They advertised Oxycontin as “addiction proof” and promoted the drug for off label uses

Forced to pay $635 million in fines

Purdue Pharma

In 2010 12 million people in the US (over 12) reported using prescription painkillers for nonmedical reasons

The misuse and abuse was responsible for more than 475,000 emergency room visits

Accidental overdoses claims more lives each year than firearms, homicides, AIDS, and vehicle accidents

22 million Americans have a dependency problem 1 Baby born every hour with an opiate

dependency One death every 19 minutes

How Big is the Problem

Rates of prescription painkiller sales, deaths and substance abuse treatment admissions (1999-2010)

If a doctor prescribed it then it must be safe

See parents and grandparents taking them

Found in most medicine cabinets

Why kids are using prescription opiates?

Time release doesn’t produce immediate “high”

Oxy =$80 per pill Heroin = $10 per hit Easy access to cheap Heroin which has

same molecular structure as Oxycontin

2010 Purdue Pharma produces a time release form of Oxycotin and Heroin use escalates

Molecular Structure of Oxycontin

Molecular Structure of Heroin

Ohio has more heroin deaths than on the highway

Charlotte, NC sees five-fold increase Cincinnati has 900% increase in heroin

confiscated Heroin addicts seeking treatment rises in

Michigan from 7,857 to 10,924 680 people die from heroin overdoses in

Michigan In Jackson County, there are 9 deaths in

2011, 12 deaths in 2012, and 3 deaths this year already

Heroin Use on the Rise 2011

1. Fun: Escape from reality. Rush of euphoria

2. Dependency: Can happen after just 3 days of use. Body has a physical dependence for the drug and without it the user can withdrawal

3. Addiction: Chemical change has occurred in the brain. Drug is needed above all else including food an water

4. Illegal Activity: Usually theft to support the drug habit. Also, driving under the influence

5. Death

Path of an Opiate User

Withdrawal from activities, work, friends Hanging out with a new group of people Excessive absence from work or school Excessive Sleeping Lack on interest in food Weight loss Headaches No money Missing spoons Empty lighters Qtips

Know the Signs

SEEK HELP IMMEDIATELY

Your Loved One is Dying

Secure prescription drugs Dispose of any unused prescriptions Educate yourself on the signs Educate your kids on the dangers of

opiates

What you can do in your home

Look for alternatives when being prescribed an opiate

Ask your doctor about the drug prescribed and its side effects

Ask about dosage and make sure the amount prescribed is limited to a short period of time

Conversations you can have with your doctor

Form your own neighborhood watch group

Exchange information with other parents about drug use

Work with local law enforcement Talk with your schools regarding

educating children on drug use Talk to your local elected officials

regarding unused prescription drop off centers

What you can do in your community

To look the other way is to give permission.

– Mike Hirst