Opiates are powerful, addictive drugs. Some have important medical uses but require a physician’s prescription because they are so dangerous when misused. It’s illegal to use them without the proper prescription. Heroin is an illegal opiate.
Death from misused opiate medicines and heroin has increased dramatically in recent years. In some states it is at epidemic proportions. Several reasons drive this increase. People using opiate medicines may become addicted, seek prescriptions from multiple doctors and eventually turn to stolen drugs available on the street. Next they may switch to heroin because it is cheaper.
The recent wave of heroin being smuggled into our country is purer and cheaper than it was a few years ago. Its purity is especially dangerous because very small amounts of pure heroin can cause death. An additional danger is that heroin may be cut with Fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid that is similar to morphine but is 50 to 100 times more potent. Users do not have any way of knowing the purity of heroin or if it has been cut with another dangerous drug. People who encourage others to use opiate medicines that are not prescribed for them (and are therefore illegal for them to use or possess) or heroin are not your friends. They offer you only addiction and death. They do it to gain power over you or for profit or both.
To help you push back against these people (and tell us about them). MPD produced the Just One Fix video. Learn what opiates and heroin are really like by watching the video. In it recovering addicts tell the truth about opiates and heroin from their own experiences. Call the Drug Education Council at 251-478-7855 if you, a family member or friend need help with opiate or heroin addiction now. Call MPD at 251-208-7211 to report people who are selling illegal opiates or heroin or encouraging people to use them.
Call 911 if you or someone else are suffering from a drug overdose.
MOBILE POLICE DEPARTMENT