A comparison of heroin epidemic models

Abstract

The use of illicit drugs has been on the rise in United States. It is very detrimental on society, as fatal overdose is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States, which is about the same as motor vehicle crashes. Of all illicit drugs, one drug that has an severe adverse effect on a community as a whole is heroin. This paper will discuss two mathematical models- the White and Comiskey model and a newly introduced model proposed by the author, describing heroin use within a fixed community. We will show the existence of stable equilibrium from both models, suggesting both a situation where heroin use is eradicated and one where it remains an endemic.