47 Heroin Statistics, Facts & Demographics You Should Know
92,000 people in the United States died as a result of an overdose involving some form of drugs in 2020.
Drug overdose deaths in the United States rose from 2019 to 2020.
Opioid related deaths as a result of an overdose were 21,088 in 2010.
47,600 people in the United States died as a result of an opioid related cause in 2017.
46,802 people in the United States died as a result of an opioid related cause in 2018.
What Is Heroin?
Heroin comes from morphine. Morphine comes from the poppy flower.
Poppies that produce heroin are grown in many parts of the world including Mexico, Colombia and countries in Southwest and Southeast Asia.
Users who consume heroin have many ways to use the drug. They can smoke it, snort it, sniff it or choose to inject it into their veins.
Pure heroin is found as a white powder. It has a bitter taste on the tongue.
A form of heroin known as black tar because it resembles roofing material is more popular in American states to the west of the Mississippi River. This kind is primarily produced in Mexico.
Prevalence of Heroin Use
An estimated 5.1 million people have reported using heroin at some point in 2015.
0.4% of all people in the United States reported they use heroin at some point in time in 2021.
Effects of Heroin on the Brain and Body
Heroin has many short term effects on the body. Users tend to feel an initial rush of warmth followed by a sense of pleasure.
However, short term effects may also include a sense of severe itching, nausea and dry mouth.
Long term effects of using heroin include insomnia, collapsed veins, damaged nose tissue, heart infections and increased risk of mental health disorders like binge eating and depression.
Heroin may contain other additives in addition to the drug. This can put the user at risk of varied conditions including kidney failure. It can also increase their risk of getting an infectious disease such as HIV.
Heroin Addiction Statistics by State
The state with the highest number of heroin addicts is Vermont. Heroin addiction in Vermont has risen eightfold since 2000.
The state with the highest number of adult heroin addicts is Colorado. Heroin addiction rates in Colorado are highest in Denver.
Delaware is the state with the 4th highest number of heroin users. Heroin use in the sate of Delaware is mainly being driven by people who are seeking other forms of painkillers for their own personal use.
Rhode Island ranks 5th in the number of people who are addicts. People who live in Rhode Island have the highest percentage of adults who are unable to seek the help they need for their addiction.
Oregon is 6th in the number of residents per capita who are heroin users. 24% of law enforcement officials in Oregon consider heroin their number one drug problem.
Connecticut is 7th on the list of the states with the highest number of per capita heroin users. Residents of Connecticut who live in urban areas are 3 times as likely to overdose on heroin as residents in more rural parts of the state.
Arizona is 8th on the list of states with the highest number of per capita heroin users. Arizona is 4th when it comes to the percent of adults over 18 who need treatment for heroin addiction but are able to get it.
75% of all heroin addicts in Arizona start with a problem stemming from prescription opioid abuse.
Massachusetts ranks 9th on the list of states with the highest per capita use of heroin.
Michigan is 10th on the list of states with the highest number of per capita use of heroin.
South Dakota has the highest number of arrests for heroin on a per capita basis.
Heroin Addiction Statistics by Age
0.3% of 8th graders in the United States reported they use heroin at some point in time in 2021.
0.2% of 10th graders in the United States reported they use heroin at some point in time in 2021.
0.3% of 12th graders in the United States reported they use heroin at some point in time in 2021.
0.2% of people in the United States who are 12 and older report that they were using heroin in the past month in 2021.
0.4% of all people in the United States have reported using heroin at least once in the in 2021.
Americans between the ages of 18 and 25 are the age group that is most at risk of an addiction of heroin.
Heroin Overdose Statistics by State
1,029 people in Alabama died as a result of a heroin overdose in 2020.
160 people in Alaska died as a result of a heroin overdose in 2020.
2,550 people in Arizona died as a result of a heroin overdose in 2020.
546 people in Arkansas died as a result of a heroin overdose in 2020.
8,908 people in California died as a result of a heroin overdose in 2020.
1,492 people in Colorado died as a result of a heroin overdose in 2020.
1,371 people in Connecticut died as a result of a heroin overdose in 2020.
444 people in Delaware died as a result of a heroin overdose in 2020.
7,231 people in Florida died as a result of a heroin overdose in 2020.
1,916 people in Georgia died as a result of a heroin overdose in 2020.
274 people in Hawaii died as a result of a heroin overdose in 2020.
287 people in Idaho died as a result of a heroin overdose in 2020.
3,549 people in Illinois died as a result of a heroin overdose in 2020.
2,321 people in Indiana died as a result of a heroin overdose in 2020.
432 people in Iowa died as a result of a heroin overdose in 2020.
490 people in Kansas died as a result of a heroin overdose in 2020.
2,083 people in Kentucky died as a result of a heroin overdose in 2020.
1,896 people in Louisiana died as a result of a heroin overdose in 2020.
496 people in Maine died as a result of a heroin overdose in 2020.
2,771 people in Maryland died as a result of a heroin overdose in 2020.
2,302 people in Massachusetts died as a result of a heroin overdose in 2020.
2,759 people in Michigan died as a result of a heroin overdose in 2020.
1,050 people in Minnesota died as a result of a heroin overdose in 2020.
586 people in Mississippi died as a result of a heroin overdose in 2020.
1,875 people in Missouri died as a result of a heroin overdose in 2020.
162 people in Montana died as a result of a heroin overdose in 2020.
214 people in Nebraska died as a result of a heroin overdose in 2020.
832 people in Nevada died as a result of a heroin overdose in 2020.
393 people in New Hampshire died as a result of a heroin overdose in 2020.
2,840 people in New Jersey died as a result of a heroin overdose in 2020.
784 people in New Mexico died as a result of a heroin overdose in 2020.
4,965 people in New York died as a result of a heroin overdose in 2020.
3,146 people in North Carolina died as a result of a heroin overdose in 2020.
114 people in North Dakota died as a result of a heroin overdose in 2020.
5,204 people in Ohio died as a result of a heroin overdose in 2020.
762 people in Oklahoma died as a result of a heroin overdose in 2020.
803 people in Oregon died as a result of a heroin overdose in 2020.
5,168 people in Pennsylvania died as a result of a heroin overdose in 2020.
397 people in Rhode Island died as a result of a heroin overdose in 2020.
1,739 people in South Carolina died as a result of a heroin overdose in 2020.
83 people in South Dakota died as a result of a heroin overdose in 2020.
3,034 people in Tennessee died as a result of a heroin overdose in 2020.
4,172 people in Texas died as a result of a heroin overdose in 2020.
190 people in Utah died as a result of a heroin overdose in 2020.
622 people in Vermont died as a result of a heroin overdose in 2020.
2,240 people in Virginia died as a result of a heroin overdose in 2020.
1,733 people in Washington died as a result of a heroin overdose in 2020.
1.330 people in West Virginia died as a result of a heroin overdose in 2020.
1,531 people in Wisconsin died as a result of a heroin overdose in 2020.
99 people in Wyoming died as a result of a heroin overdose in 2020.
Heroin Overdose Statistics by Age
21,000 adolescents admitted they used heroin in 2015.
5,000 adolescents are estimated to be current heroin users in the United States.
People between the age of 24 and 35 are the most likely age group to die from a heroin overdose.
Heroin overdose deaths rose 14% in 2020 for people from 35 to 55.
Heroin overdose deaths in people over 60 rose 12% in 2020.
Heroin Legal Ramifications
Heroin is considered a Schedule I Controlled Substance with the most potentially severe charges for any controlled substance.
The legal penalty for heroin use varies by the amount found on the user. 0–15 grams is a class 4 felony with fines up to $25,000 and a 1-3 year jail sentence.
Carrying over 900 grams is a category X felony. Those convicted of this felony face up $200,000 in fines and mandatory sentences up to 50 years.
Heroin Treatment and Prevention
Heroin addiction can be treated via the use of medications and behavioral therapy.
Methadone is the most commonly used medication to help with heroin addiction.
Buprenorphine is the 2nd most commonly used medication to help with heroin addiction.
Naltrexone is the 3rd most commonly used medication to help with heroin addiction.
Narcan kits cost $25 per dose to administer to people who are in the middle of a dangerous reaction to heroin.
Narcan kits have been given to more than 150,000 people who have suffered from an episode of heroin addiction in public or private since 2000.
Health officials estimate 27,000 lives have been saved as a result of providing Narcan kits to help people in the throws of heroin addiction.
Interventions to directly change health care providers’ prescribing behaviors for all forms of opioids have been shown to help reduce the overall number of heroin related deaths in the United States.
1 dollar spent on preventing heroin addition saves 10 dollars for the costs of treating the condition.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy is one of the most common ways to help people with a heroin addiction overcome their addition.
Contingency management is another one of the most common ways to help people with a heroin addiction overcome their addition.
