Smack Down: The Heroin Epidemic!

Smack, boy, caps, and twist are slang for heroin. This is becoming an epidemic in America. Young people are wasting their lives away for the deadly drug. It hits close to home. 

It's a dangerous plague in the United States. It's not only affecting the cities but the suburbs. It's taking advantage of many lives. It's a personal demon that affects millions of users. This plague could land you in the box taking a permanent dirt nap.

It's affected a personal friend of mine. 

She's struggling at a young age. And I give it a few more years before she ends up a victim of the epidemic. As a victim of sexual assault and peer pressure her life has led her to the dangerous world of prostitution. This young woman once had a promising future. She wanted to get into travel and leisure. All of this wasted away for her fix. This fix has her wrapped.

And I believe her stubbornness will be the death of her.

Shelia Tomlin is gambling her life. She's addicted to heroin and crack/cocaine. She's selling her soul for the high.

Her name is Shelia Tomlin. A young woman from Dayton, Ohio who is at the verge of death.

She's not willing to accept the fact that her life is spiraling out of control and there's nothing more I can do as a friend to help her out the mess.

Just recently I found out that she's now homeless. She's lost everything. Not a place to her name.

Her mother passed away.

Living from place to place.

Not knowing that day by day her body is wasting away.

I am guessing that the addiction began with crack/cocaine use. Then being introduced to heroin by former boyfriend or pimp began the spiral downward. Then in order to get a boy, she would sell her body for at least $10.

Now I am not even sure if she been affected by HIV or Hepatitis C. After all, using heroin greatly increases a chance a user gets infected by a sexually transmitted disease.

The Foundation for a Drug Free World declares that the battle to stop heroin is a challenge.

Heroin is a highly addictive, illegal drug. It is used by millions of addicts around the world who are unable to overcome the urge to continue taking this drug every day of their lives—knowing that if they stop, they will face the horror of withdrawal.

Heroin (like opium and morphine) is made from the resin of poppy plants. Milky, sap-like opium is first removed from the pod of the poppy flower. This opium is refined to make morphine, then further refined into different forms of heroin.

Most heroin is injected, creating additional risks for the user, who faces the danger of sexuality transmitted diseases and AIDS or other infection on top of the pain of addiction.

The state of Indiana has situation where a handful of residents south of Columbus, IN are infected with HIV due to the spike in heroin usage.

It's happening in Ohio and trust me, it's taking people's lives.

What can you do when you have someone who is not willing to get treatment before its too late?