Death rates due to heroin in the United States have doubled in the past two years, according to a report compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Experts, however, found that the death rate for prescription painkillers declined slightly. The researchers arrived at the conclusion by assessing data from 28 states. They noted that between 2010 and 2012, the overall rate of deaths due to heroin doubled from 1.0 to 2.1 per 100,000 people. To be precise, the number of cases spiked from 1,779 to 3,665 and 15 of the 28 states reported increase in heroin overdose death rates. This trend was not seen in American Indians and Alaskan Natives.
Researchers noted that the death rate because of opioid pain relievers dropped from 6.0 to 5.6 per 100,000 in 2 years. The OPR overdose death risk dipped mostly in men, those below 45-years of age, Southern residents, and non-Hispanic whites. Out of the 28 states, five states reported an increase in the OPR death rate whereas seven states reported a decrease.
"Combined mortality data from 28 states, encompassing 56% of the U.S. population, indicate an increasing problem with fatal overdoses from heroin from 2010 to 2012. Death rates from OPR declined overall but remained more than twice as high as heroin overdose death rates. Changes in heroin death rates were positively correlated with changes in OPR death rates. Mortality from overdoses of any type of drug rose slightly," the researchers wrote.
"The findings indicate a need for intensified prevention efforts aimed at reducing overdose deaths from all types of opioids while recognizing the demographic differences between the heroin and OPR-using populations. Efforts to prevent expansion of the number of OPR users who might use heroin when it is available should continue," they added.
The study, 'Increases in Heroin Overdose Deaths - 28 States, 2010 to 2012,' was published in the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
