Top 5 addiction questions answered

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1. Has Heroin caused more deaths than auto accidents?

Answer:  Well that depends on how this question was intended, if  you mean do more people die from automobile accidents than Heroin, the answer is probably yes. However, to put this into proper perspective first consider this, a greater majority of the population drive cars, so the odds of there being more deaths due to automobile accidents would naturally be higher especially if you take into account also that it is rare that there are ever just one vehicle involved in vehicular accidents resulting in death. However, if there were the same number of Heroin users as there are car drivers, those numbers would probably sky rocket. That doesn't even factor in how many vehicular accidents that may have occurred from someone being high on Heroin.

2. Can using Heroin once kill you?
Answer:  Yes it can, especially if you overdose, which is not uncommon. Heroin can also cause a number of other health/side effects that can have a fatal attack on your system.
For instance, some people have underlying hidden heart problems they are unaware of that using Heroin, even once could cause death.

3. How can you get an addict help if they refuse?
Answer:  If you can not get an addict to accept help, The one thing you can do is refuse to enable their addiction any longer. This means cutting them off financially. No more rides, no more money, zip - zilch. If you find this particular action too hard to do, then you would need to get support for yourself so that you can learn to cut the ties of co dependency. There are various support groups that are specifically formed to deal with the family members of those who are addicted. They offer guidance, and support to help family members make the best decisions and start living for themselves again, whether the addict in their life is there or not. You can not always save an addict, but at some point  you certainly need to save yourself from the grip  they have on your life.

4. Can smoking crack cocaine put you at risk for HIV?
Answer:  People who smoke crack cocaine are at increased risk of becoming infected with HIV — a finding that highlights the need to adopt and to evaluate the use of safe inhalation rooms and safer crack kits, B.C. researchers say.  Some of the reasons for this risk is the users impaired ability to rationally make safe decisions, as well as participating in risky behavior to obtain money for their habit, such as engaging in sexual conduct.

5. Can you get Hepatitis from smoking crack cocaine?

Answer:  Smoking crack can lead to open sores, burns or cuts on the lips, which can transfer blood to a crack pipe. If the pipe is shared, even a speck of infected blood can transmit hepatitis C. Sharing means anything like borrowing, lending, passing on, buying, selling, reusing, receiving or taking any equipment that was used by someone else. Some people do not identify risk with the word “sharing” or when reusing involves a close sexual partner (like a boyfriend or girlfriend).

If you have questions, and need answers visit: The Addicted Family, a website devoted to supportive information and help for addicts and their loved ones.