Heroin Use Over Last Decade Doubled Across The US: CDC

Heroin use has doubled across all groups in the United States over the past decade, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention has found.

In its morbidity and mortality weekly report, CDC pointed out that the rate of heroin use increased from 1.6 per 1,000 persons in 2002-2004 to 2.6 in 2011-2013, and rate of abuse was strongly correlated to the overdose deaths over time.

"There was a significant increase in the rate of past-year heroin use in the United States between 2002-2004 and 2011-2013. Rates remained highest among males, persons aged 18-25 years, persons with annual household incomes <$20,000, persons living in urban areas, and persons with no health insurance or with Medicaid. However, rates increased significantly across almost all study groups," CDC noted.

The study attributes numerous factors to the increase in rate, notably the low cost of heroin and its easy availability in the US. It also pointed to poly-substance abuse among heroin users, causing dependence on opioid substances.

"Past-year alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, and opioid pain reliever abuse or dependence were each significant risk factors for heroin abuse or dependence. Research has identified poly-substance use as a risk factor for overdose death," the report found.

The report calls for reducing prescription of opioid medication for people with history of troubled use, strong drug monitoring programs and even insurance coverage for abuse treatment.