Growing Number of Heroin Addicts are Taxing Wisconsin System

Heroin use now close to 50 %

In Dane County, Wisconsin, the growing number of heroin addicts are taxing the services of local counseling and treatment centers.

"Where heroin used to be maybe 5 to 10 percent (of those treated), now it’s probably closer to 50 percent," said Mike Florek, founder of Tellurian, a non-profit organization that provides inpatient and outpatient treatment for about 300 alcohol and drug abusers and those suffering with mental health problems.

"We just do not have the capacity to deal with sheer numbers," Florek said. "We could fill detox with heroin addicts."

The fastest demographic group seeking treatment for opiate addiction are those ages 19 to 25 who often begin their spiraling descent into drug use by abusing prescription drugs. Teens and young adults are especially vulnerable to heroin’s devastating effects. The drug stunts their developing brains and they do not completely comprehend the strength of the drug.

According to Florek, young heroin users are also impulsive and egocentric.

"One day they are crying and begging for treatment. Two days later they’re running out the back door with another young addict."

Often addicts enroll in a detox program just to lower their tolerance level and make their drug habit less expensive.

Dave Cieslewicz is the mayor of Madison, Wisconsin and has created a task force to address the drug crisis. Specific projects include a county or regional prescription drug tracking program that would identify those who have had multiple, recent opiate prescriptions, more accessible treatment programs and an educational campaign on how to safely dispose of prescription drugs.