Reports about people who are arrested for and charged with crimes involving opioid substances in Nebraska are nothing new. Sadly, these types of reports and situations may actually reflect another reality that has been growing in recent years. That reality is a growth in the number of people addicted to these opioid substances.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has recently released information showing just how many people are said to have used heroin or prescription drugs. In 2016, more than two million people have been identified as having problems related to either opioids or heroin in 2016 alone. In the same year, more than one million people are said to have used heroin and another 11 million or more people abused prescription medications involving opioids.
Also concerning is the fact that 2016 was the year most deadly due to opioid deaths in America with 64,000 fatalities associated with opioid overdoses. More than a quarter million people have lost their lives to opioids nationwide since the start of the century. When people are arrested for drug crimes, attention may well be needed to be given to potential underlying problems associated with drug addiction. This means treatment rather than jail may be something to be considered.
Defendants in Nebraska who find themselves facing either misdemeanor or felony charges related to opioids or other substances might want to talk with a lawyer to learn about how they might be able to defend themselves.
Source: USA Today, "Opioid epidemic 'getting worse not better,' public health officials warn," Michael Collins, October 5, 2017