Growing heroin use among the young and affluent?

To the Editor:

A May 9 news article, "For Heroin's New Users, a Long Hard Fall," indicates that heroin use and addiction has grown among the young and affluent. This claim has been made before.

However, despite examples of middle-class drug addicts and clinical impressions, epidemiological data do not support this idea. While middle-class people are as likely to use drugs and alcohol as disadvantaged people, addicts and alcoholics come disproportionately from uneducated, impoverished and alienated groups.

It cannot repeatedly be true that such drug use is shifting from lower to middle classes. If one day it were true, it would only be because our saying it over and over had made it so.

Stanton Peele
Morristown, NJ, May 9, 1999

© Copyright 1996-2008 Stanton Peele. All rights reserved.
The opinions contained on this website are Stanton Peele's and in no way reflect those of the financial supporters of the website. Stanton Peele does not necessarily approve of any of the products or treatment programs advertised at this website. All material provided on the Stanton Peele Addiction Website is provided for informational or educational purposes only. Stanton Peele cannot provide individual clinical or therapy recommendations for persons consulting this site unless they have specifically retained Stanton for this purpose and he addresses them individually. Consult a licensed therapist or physician regarding the applicability of any opinions or recommendations with respect to your problems or medical condition.
Website by ExplainMedia. Design by Simcha Shtull. Last updated March 3, 2008 .