The Heroin Epidemic in America: A Surgeon's Perspective

The United States is currently experiencing a heroin epidemic. Recent reports have demonstrated a three-fold increase in heroin use among Americans since 2007 with a shift in demographics to more women and white Americans. Furthermore, there has been a correlation between the recent opioid epidemic and an increase in heroin abuse. Much has been written about epidemiology and prevention of heroin abuse, but little has been dedicated to the surgical implications, complications, and resource utilization. This article focuses on the surgical problems encountered from heroin abuse and how to manage them in a constant effort to improve morbidity and mortality for these heroin abusers.