An epidemic people believed was finally dying down has resurfaced and is claiming the lives of hundreds in the city of Bronx alone. In 2016 alone, 1,374 people died from overdoses in New York City and “more Bronx residents died of drug overdose in 2016 than any other New York City borough – 308” (Delreal). This shocking statistic is unfortunately not something that many people are aware of. These individuals who are suffering from drug abuse are losing their lives in public restrooms, alleyways, and abandoned buildings. These individuals are losing their lives without a bat of the public eye. These individuals are losing their lives while being hidden away and swept under the rug. This is a horrifying realization that many people have yet to reach.
Opioids have resurfaced and taken over not only the drug business, but also the cities and homes of individuals. In recent years as the the supply in the United States has grown, heroin has become much cheaper and significantly more potent. Individuals with histories of drug abuse are particularly vulnerable to relapse amid the surge of these cheap drugs. Eighty-five percent of the deaths in New York involved opioids, and seventy-six percent of those overdoses involved heroin or specifically fentanyl. Fentanyl has been known to be 50 times more powerful than heroin alone and is taking over the streets of the Bronx. The recent rise of heroin use in the Bronx is a distinct reminder of the surge of prescription painkillers that fueled the opioid epidemic in suburban and rural communities across the nation.
This epidemic is not something new to our nation, not even to our generation. So doesn’t it just beg the question, “How can people just stand by while this is happening? Why is an epidemic that is sweeping our nation and claiming the lives of thousands still being ignored?” Nobody seems to have sought out an answer, and not enough are working to end this epidemic. But whats even worse is this: even if we chip in and work to stop this trend, it can never fully be eradicated. This sad statement is the sad truth. The drug market has now buried its roots making itself a cozy place in the world of business. This market has now become a large power in our society and provides jobs and income to thousands of individuals all over the nation.
Hundreds, even thousands of people die from drug overdoses every year, but it has become yet another forgotten “hot topic” of the past. Nobody seems to care anymore, and due to this apathy, cities like the Bronx are being swept under the rug and left to fight this brutal war on their own. Can something be done? Will someone or something step in to end this proving me wrong?
I hope the near future will deliver some good news.
