We have studied the drug sub-culture and the power of drug addiction in previous segments of this course. The
popularity and frequency of use of various drugs continuously ebbs and flows on both the national and local
levels. Certain areas of the country have always maintained an appetite for a specific drug type. For example,
the Washington DC area has always been a high consumer of PCP and the Baltimore area has always been a
high consumer of heroin.
Recognizing patterns of abuse and trends in drug use is critical to developing a robust plan to counteract the
problem and procure resources that will be necessary for success. For this discussion question we will be
attempting to identify patterns of drug abuse, determine trends and predict what resources will be needed to
address the problem.
For this discussion question, please examine the attached chart and answer the following:
What are the two drug types currently responsible for the most overdose deaths in Maryland?
From our studies, explain the similarities between these two drug types (specifically explain how they affect
users and how addiction to and withdrawal from these drugs are related.)
Currently in Maryland, the overdose death rate for heroin is approximately 150% of the rate for prescription
opioids. Present a theory for why this has occurred and what possible decision by drug users drove the trend in
overdose death rates for these two drug types.
