Bailey Nixon

Annotated Bibliography

Buchman, D. Z., Leece, P., & Orkin, A. (2017). The Epidemic as Stigma: The Bioethics
of Opioids. Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics, 45(4), 607+. Retrieved from
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A528197851/GPS?u=henrico&sid=GPS&xid=45982
0cb
Offering a different perspective from many of the other articles found, this journal
focuses on the heroin addiction as a stigma, which causes more people to become addicted. The
paper is structured into five parts that simultaneously unpack the heroin epidemic and the heroin
stigma. First, it discusses the basic tendencies of a stigma and compare this to a brief history of
opioid issues. Next, the paper reveals the addiction from moral, social, and cultural concepts.
Finally, it compares current and future resources to end addictions and how this process is also
labeled as a stigma. This paper explores topics that would be interesting to explore for the
capstone paper. Specifically, the introduction into the history of opioid issues, the social concept
of a heroin addiction, and the tools to end an addiction would be helpful information to help
write the paper.

Casey, G. (2017, September). Dealing with addiction. Kai Tiaki: Nursing New Zealand, 23(8),
20+. Retrieved from
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A507185361/GPS?u=henrico&sid=GPS&xid=ece33b
a4
This article includes ample information on the causes of a heroin addiction. Originally
designed for nurses, this handout explains the brain’s role in starting a drug addiction. Georgina
Casey describes the dopamine method of drugs causing increased dopaminergic fires and less
reuptakes of the dopamine. Due to this, there is a great feeling of euphoria that lasts longer than
usual. Additionally, Casey incorporates information on genetics causing addiction; she claims
that an addict’s child has a 50% chance of also becoming addicted. Casey includes a chart for
nurses to examine how powerful and addictive the opiods are that they are prescribing. She
brings up an interesting point about how not only are addicts negatively impacting their own
bodies and lives, but also the wellbeing of society. This article will be very helpful either in the
front of the paper explaining some general information, and also in the causes section where it
will talk about how the brain can cause addiction.

Christensen, J. & Hernandez, S. (2017, June 23). This is america on drugs: A visual
guide. CNN. Retrieved from
https://www.cnn.com/2016/09/23/health/heroin-opioid-drug-overdose-deaths-visual-guid
e/index.html
From a nationwide perspective, this article details the numbers behind the heroin
epidemic. It includes numerous graphs about opioid and heroin deaths throughout the decades,
the states affected most by the epidemic, and the counties affected most in West Virginia, where
the heroin crisis is the worst in the country. The graphs represented in this article provide real
and statistical information about the cases reported and numbers of deaths. This article proves to
be really helpful when discussing the background of the heroin epidemic and where it is most
prevalent in the United States. In addition, this article brings up an interesting point on how
heroin kills more people currently than car accidents and shootings combined. In fact, this article
claims that the heroin epidemic is unlike any other drug related crisis, and can be compared to
the HIV epidemic in the 1980’s. Overall, this article is extremely useful for nationwide
demographics and heroin statistics.

Cicero T. J., Ellis M.S., Surratt H.L., & Kurtz S.P. (2014). The changing face of heroin use in the
united states: A retrospective analysis of the past 50 years. JAMA Psychiatry;
71(7):821–826. Retrieved from
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/1874575?;resultClick=3
This article details a study done to test the migration of heroin use from low income areas
to middle-high income areas. In this study, a group of individuals took over 2,000 surveys and
conducted over 50 interviews in order to figure out why heroin use was steadily being used more
in higher income areas. During the study, researchers used the surveyor's demographics and
reasons for choosing heroin as their intended drug to make conclusions. Interestingly enough, in
1980’s heroin use was equal among whites and nonwhites and used in mostly urban areas;
however, current users tend to be higher class white males. The researchers found their reasoning
was because of its easy accessibility and low price. This article will be helpful when discussing
the background of heroin use on who uses it and why they use it. Also, this journal can be used
when discussing the evolution of heroin use and how to target where it is being used.

Crews, F. T. (2012). Immune function genes, genetics, and the neurobiology of addiction.
Alcohol Research: Current Reviews, 34(3), 355+. Retrieved from
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A460060778/GPS?u=henrico&sid=GPS&xid=a2be79
a5
Throughout the article, Fulton Crews the chemical components of an addiction. Crews
describes the power of the neuroimmune system and how it contributes to addictions when under
large amounts of stress. When involved in certain stressful or tempting situations, cells in the
neuroimmune system are activated. Additionally, a protein called nuclear factor-kB activates
“immune genes” which causes the frontal cortex of the brain to shut down, leaving room for
error and danger as the individual decides whether or not to do that drug. This immune issue has
been seen in studies relating to genetic addiction issues, such as alcohol; it is a prevalent factor
when researching how people get addicted so easily. This article will help when discussing how
people get addicted, and also what it is like. By using this chemical research, it will be easy to
incorporate a “mind” perspective of addiction and how a person’s brain is actually tricked into
not only continuing the addiction, but also starting it in the first place.
Dyer, N. O. A. K. (2003). Durkheim, mead, and heroin addiction. Human Architecture: Journal
of the Sociology of Self-Knowledge, 2(2), 99+. Retrieved from
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A227788678/GPS?u=henrico&sid=GPS&xid=77d9b
18b
This source provided amazing detail and information on the why’s and what’s of the
addiction itself. From a nurse’s perspective, Nancy O’Keefe Dyer, writes stories from real cases
were released and described. Dyer writes about the short term and long term complications of
using heroin are. She includes complications such as vomiting and lowered blood pressure to
collapsed veins and inflections in the heart valves. In addition to this, Dyer explains the
symptoms of withdrawal from heroin. She includes tearing of the eyes, stomach cramps,
hypothermia, “skin crawling” and many more. Dyer recounts a patient she took care who used
heroin every day for 25 years who experienced the worst withdrawal symptoms. Another
interesting aspect of this article is it goes into sections about a heroin addiction from two the
supposed perspectives of two psychologists: Emile Durkheim and George Herbert Mead. Dyer
explains how each psychologist would explain a heroin addiction from their perspective. This
article will be extremely helpful when transitioning the paper to the causes of addiction to the
effects of addiction. It will be helpful when explaining the symptoms of a heroin user.

Ji, H., et al. (2018). Dopamine receptor D4 promoter hypermethylation increases the risk of drug
addiction. Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, 15(2), 2128+. Retrieved from
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A525840893/GPS?u=henrico&sid=GPS&xid=320a2
34e
This journal features a study done in China on the dopamine levels of heroin and meth
addicts. The researchers sought to understand the correlation between dopamine as a result of
becoming addicted to a drug. They investigated the result of the DRD4 gene after giving the
addict meth. Using 60 drug addicts and 52 controls, it was found that DRD4 wa more prevalent
in meth and heroin users compared to those who were not affiliated with any drug. It was
mentioned that even though the test used meth, there was a positive correlation between the
increased dopamine levels in heroin users as well. Alongside other sources that detailed
dopamine levels as a cause for addiction, this article will be very helpful when explaining the
direct mental causes of an addiction.

Ravages of heroin addiction haunt friends, families and whole towns. (2015, August 23).
Weekend Edition Sunday. Retrieved from
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A427925389/MSIC?u=va_s_043_0610&sid=MSIC&
xid=56e9c770
This source features and NPR recorder, Rachel Martin, along with a recovered addict, a
sister of an addict who passed away from a heroin overdose, and a local police officer. Martin
focuses her story on Marion, a small town in Ohio where heroin has becoming an
overwhelmingly dangerous issue. Kelly Clixby describes her relationship to Chrystina Carey, the
woman who overdosed. She talks about her poor choices and experiences with heroin and how
Chrystina’s death influenced her to get clean. She then describes Vivitrol, a time-release opiate
blocker. She talks about how it has helped her get clean, blocking the opiate receptors in her
brian. However, she does admit that while it is an effective anti-drug, it does not work for
everyone. Additionally, Beth Carey describes her sister’s struggle with addiction beginning with
ecstasy to oxycontin and finally to heroin. This article will help me when discussing the
repercussions of heroin addictions. There is good information on anti-drugs to help with
recovering from addiction as well as the negative effects such as a child losing their parent from
an overdose. In this case, Beth Carey is responsible for now taking care of her sister’s two kids
that she left behind.

Report from the front lines of heroin addiction treatment. (2014, February 4). All Things
Considered. Retrieved from
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A358890022/MSIC?u=va_s_043_0610&sid=MSIC&
xid=f1c3008e
This source reflects an audio broadcast between an NPR recorder and Mr. Venza, a vice
president with an outreach program for drug abuse treatment. They begin their conversation
talking about the easy accessibility of getting heroin; it costs way less to get heroin than it is to
get painkiller pills. However, Venza points out that this continuously adds up as addicts purchase
large quantities in smaller amounts of time. Mr. Venza then describes the typical process of a
drug addict: prescription painkillers to opiates and specifically, heroin. He also describes how
most people start with sniffing the heroin; they can get high while avoiding the needle commonly
used for heroin. Finally, Mr. Venza describes a common misconception about heroin treatment;
people are not going to get clean in short amounts of time. This article will help when discussing
not only the causes of addiction, but also the effects. It can be used when introducing the general
topic and concluding it with solutions for addicts.

Sullum, J. (2018, February). Don’t blame pain pills for the opioid crisis. Reason, 49(9), 15.
Retrieved from
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A522210607/GPS?u=henrico&sid=GPS&xid=9ed64a
d7
Jacob Sulliam describes Chris Christine’s differing view on the origins of the opioid
crisis. Christine claims that individuals who overdose on opiods did not do so because of
prescribed medications; however, those who overdosed were more likely to be former drug users
who has “substance abuse and psychological problems”. Sulliam also references a 2010 study
that concluded only 1% of patients get addicted to the opioid drugs they are prescribed for pain
medication. He claims that prescription pills only accounted for 5% of the annual opioid
overdose while the remaining 85% was heroin and fentanyl. This article proves to be the perfect
counterargument to the component on the causes of a heroin addiction in the capstone project. In
this section, it is planned to talk about how prescription medication has increased heroin users,
and this article can be used to cite studies where some individuals disagree.