For those who look into international news, they know that the US is not the only country struggling with an opioid problem.
More and more people in Britain are becoming addicted to the substance as about eight in every 1,000 Britain are high-risk opioid users.
Furthermore, out of the 28 European Membered states, there was a registered total of 8,441 overdose deaths related to heroin and other opioids with the UK accounting for 31% of those deaths.
The opioid epidemic in Britain Started with online drug geeks buying synthetic cannabinoid substances that produce a slight mellow high for the user. However, through the variety of brand names, the synthetic cannabinoid aka Spice has become unpredictable, potent, and toxic.
While the drug was meant to calm the user down, it, in turn, spiked aggression, agitation, insomnia, and addiction. Similar signs of stimulant abuse.
Once this was discovered, the Psychoactive Substance Act banned all legal-highs. Nine months passed and sadly, those who used spice found their way to heroin as a means to self-medicate themselves from the withdrawal effects of spice.
Opioid abuse goes beyond the United States and exists everywhere with the use of online drug sales. Yes, it may not be nearly as large as the US but it is important to note that this is occurring elsewhere.
The positive to this, however it is a small positive, is that between the two countries could lead to strategies on how to prevent the epidemic from progressing forward.
NPS (New Psychoactive Substances) are developing more and more creating an ever-advancing threat. As seen in Spice, the chemicals used are a mystery. Those who expected to get a mild high from the synthetic cannabis, in turn, experienced the side effects of methamphetamine abuse.