Heroin overdose deaths in the U.S. have increased for the third year in a row, according to 2013 drug overdose mortality data recently released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Drug deaths related to prescription opioids have remained stable since 2012.
The data show a 6% increase in all drug poisoning deaths from 2012, and a 1% increase in deaths involving opioid analgesics over 2012. Deaths involving heroin had the largest upsurge overall, with a 39% increase from 2012, while deaths involving cocaine increased 12%. These results demonstrate that while the Administration’s efforts to curb the epidemic of the nonmedical use of prescription drugs is working, much more work is needed to improve the way we prevent and treat substance use disorders.