A new report, \u201cTracking Heroin Use in the United States: 2002 to 2013,\u201d released by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) shows that while incidence of heroin use is still relatively small compared to other illicit substances, it rose significantly during the past 11 years. The report shows that 681,000 Americans aged 12 and older used heroin in the past year.<\/p>\n
Although this is consistent with levels since 2009, it is far higher than the 2002 to 2008 levels (ranging from 314,000 to 455,000). Data shows that 169,000 Americans age 12 and older used heroin for the first time in 2013. Among these initiates were 21,000 adolescents (ages 12 to 17) and 66,000 young adults (ages 18 to 25). Overall, on an average day about 460 Americans use heroin for the first time.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
The report shows that in the past year there has been a significant rise in the number of people who received treatment for a heroin problem\u2014from 277,000 in 2002 to 526,000 in 2013.\u00a0The report also shows an overall drop in individuals\u2019 perception regarding ease of obtaining heroin. In 2013, 15.2 percent of people age 12 or older thought heroin would be fairly or very easy for them to obtain, a drop from 18.3 percent in 2002. The decline in perception of heroin availability was particularly pronounced among those aged 12 to 17\u2014from 15.8 percent in 2002 to 9.1 percent in 2013.
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\n\u201cHeroin use has reached alarming levels throughout our nation and we must work together to overcome this serious public health threat,\u201d said SAMHSA Administrator Pamela S. Hyde in a news release. \u201cIt takes collective effort from all parts of our communities to educate and prevent heroin use and addiction. Everyone needs to know how to identify people with a heroin problem, help them find treatment, and know how to help prevent overdose deaths. Together we can save lives and through treatment, offer people recovering from heroin problems happy, healthy, and productive futures.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n