Many young people who inject heroin report misuse of prescription opioids before starting to use heroin. In addition to increasing the risk of overdose, the intravenous use of heroin places individuals at higher risk of diseases like HIV and hepatitis C.
According to SAMHSA’s 2014 NSDUH (PDF | 3.4 MB):
- 4.8 million people have used heroin at some point in their lives.
- Among people between the ages of 12 and 49, the average age of first use was 28.
- 212,000 people aged 12 or older used heroin for the first time within the past 12 months.
- Approximately 435,000 people were regular (past-month) users of heroin.
ICAN Community Services provide each client with the best foundation they can have for achieving not only lasting recovery from their addictions but as importantly a better way of living a successful and joyous life.
For more information about the treatment of opioid use disorders, visit the topics Behavioral Health Treatments and Services, Mental and Substance Use Disorders, and Prescription Drug Misuse and Abuse.