The identification number of hoi polloi doing heroin in the U.S. has reached ‘ epidemic ’ story , according to aCenters for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC ) report . Use of the drug increase by 63 % and heroin - related overdose deaths well-nigh quadrupled from 2002 to 2013 .
The acclivity in use has been seen in nearly every demographic group , the CDC notes . In fussy , the report found that heroin use has doubled among women and non - Hispanic white hoi polloi . Though it was most common among males , those who are most at - risk of habituation are hoi polloi age 18 - 25 years , non - Latino whites and those with an annual house income of less than $ 20,000 a year . The report suggest the rise in diacetylmorphine usage is being driven by prescription drug insult , in particular opioid painkiller consumption .
“ It ’s really a one - two punch , ” Dr. Tom Frieden , headway of the CDC , said in aphone briefing .
“ First is an increasing bit of people primed for diacetylmorphine addiction because they ’re addicted to or disclose to prescription opioid anodyne ; and second is an increment in the supplying and accessibility and lessening in the cost of heroin , ” Frieden explained .
People addicted to prescription medicine painkillers are 40 times more likely to abuse or be dependent on heroin . According to Frieden , heroin costs or so five times less than prescription opiates on the street . The report also shows that those using diacetylmorphine in the past year were far more likely to use at least one other drug , which included marijuana , cocain and alcohol . This lethal combining can increase a individual ’s risk of overdose because mixing drugs can have unpredictable and exaggerated effects on the body .
“ I ’ll severalize you that as a doctor who set off my career contract care of patient with HIV and other complications from injectant drug , it ’s heartbreaking to see injection drug use making a comeback in the U.S. , ” Frieden said .
Most the great unwashed who went into treatment centers for heroin addiction admitted to injecting the drug . Frieden reports to seeing “ clusters of Hepatitis C and of HIV ” as a resultant of opioid injection .
The CDC is calling for a “ comprehensive response ” at both the federal and commonwealth levels to address the diacetylmorphine epidemic . Frieden suggests this approach has to include “ both prevention and discussion and recuperation ” for those who abuse heroin . state can play a primal use by monitor the use of ethical drug painkillers and improve access to discourse .
“ Everyone has a function to diddle . States , public wellness , wellness care providers , fellowship , community , practice of law enforcement , and to those who may be addict or become addicted , seek help because treatment works , ” Frieden said .
