NIH Consensus Development Conference on Effective Medical Treatment of HeroinAddiction. Held in Bethesda, Maryland on November 17-19, 1997. Program and Abstracts

摘要

In the United States alone, approximately one-half million people are addicted toheroin. Estimates of heroin incidence (122,000 new users) in recent years suggest an increased incidence and an emerging pattern of drug use among the young. For many years, herion addiction has been associated with inceased criminal activity and human suffering. In the past 10 years, there has been a dramatic increase in the prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and tuberculosis among intravenous herion users. From 1991 to 1995 in major metropolitan areas, the annual number of heroin-related emergency room visits has increased from 36,000 to 76,00, and the annual number of heroin-related deaths has increased from 2,300 to 4,000. The associated morbidity and mortality further underscore the human, economic, and societal cost of heroin addiction.