Top 10 Heroin Statistics

1. In the United States, heroin use has increased by 5 times since 2005.
2. Over 80% of heroin users in the US started with prescription painkillers.
3. In 2019, heroin overdose deaths accounted for 14,019 deaths in the US alone.
4. The number of heroin overdose deaths has increased by 5 times since 2010.
5. Overdose deaths involving heroin have increased by 9% from 2018 to 2019 in the US.
6. More than 90% of people who use heroin also use at least one other drug.
7. Heroin is one of the most commonly used drugs among people who inject drugs.
8. Nearly 80% of people who use heroin report misusing prescription opioids before using heroin.
9. People who use heroin are 19 times more likely to die from an overdose than the general population.
10. Heroin use is highest among males aged 18-25.

Heroin Prevalence

• According to the World Drug Report, in 2019, an estimated 10.4 million people aged 15-64 years used opioids, including heroin, globally.
• In the US, an estimated 745,000 people aged 12 or older had a heroin use disorder in 2019.
• In Europe, approximately 1.3 million people are considered high-risk opioid users, with heroin being the most commonly used opioid.
• In Australia, heroin use has been declining since the early 2000s; however, it is still a significant problem among some populations. In 2019, there were over 1,100 drug-induced deaths in Australia involving opioids such as heroin.
• The prevalence of heroin use varies widely across countries and regions. For example, in Asia and Africa, prescription opioids are more commonly abused than heroin. However, in North America and Europe, heroin is the most commonly abused opioid drug.

How Many People are Addicted to Heroin?

• According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, in 2019, approximately 0.5 million people aged 12 or older had a heroin use disorder in the US, which represents about 0.2% of the population.
• In Europe, it is estimated that around 1.3 million people are high-risk opioid users, with heroin being the most commonly used opioid drug.
• In Australia, an estimated 50,000 people use heroin regularly or occasionally. This represents about 0.2% of the population.
• In Canada, approximately 50,000 people are addicted to opioids such as heroin. This represents about 0.1% of the population.
• Globally, an estimated 10.4 million people aged between 15 and 64 years old used opioids including heroin in 2019. This represents about 0.3% of this age group's population worldwide.

Heroin Prevalence by State

The Highest rates of past-year heroin use among people aged 12 or older were

• District of Columbia (1.6%)
• Rhode Island (1.4%)
• West Virginia (1.3%)
• Massachusetts (1.2%)
• Connecticut (1.0%)

The Lowest rates of past-year heroin use were

• Iowa (0.1%)
• Nebraska (0.1%)
• North Dakota (0.1%)
• South Dakota (0.2%)
• Kansas (0.2%)

Heroin Use and Addiction Statistics

• Heroin is one of the most addictive drugs in the world.
• The number of people with heroin use disorder has increased by 6 times since 2002.
• In 2020, an estimated 10.1 million people in the world used heroin.
• In 2019, an estimated 745,000 people in the US had a heroin use disorder.
• People who use heroin are at a higher risk of contracting infectious diseases like HIV and hepatitis C.
• Heroin use during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, and premature birth.
• Over 90% of people who seek treatment for heroin addiction also have at least one other mental health disorder.
• In 2019, only 18% of people who needed treatment for heroin addiction received it in the US.
• The cost of heroin addiction in terms of healthcare, lost productivity, and criminal justice is estimated to be over $100 billion per year in the US.

Heroin-Related Deaths

• In 2019, heroin overdose deaths accounted for 14,019 deaths in the US alone.
• The percentage of drug overdose deaths involving heroin increased from 8% in 2010 to 25% in 2019.
• Overdose deaths involving synthetic opioids (excluding methadone) and heroin have both been increasing since 2013. In 2019, synthetic opioids were involved in the majority (59%) of opioid-involved overdose deaths, while heroin was involved in about a quarter (25%) of opioid-involved overdose deaths.
• In Europe, over two-thirds (69%) of drug-related deaths are related to opioids such as heroin.
• Australia has seen an increase in opioid-related deaths over the last decade. In 2019, there were 1,372 drug-induced deaths involving opioids such as heroin and morphine.

Heroin and Crime Statistics

• Heroin trafficking is a major source of income for organized crime groups around the world.
• In the US, the majority of people arrested for drug offenses test positive for heroin.
• In 2019, over 60,000 people were arrested for heroin-related offenses in the US.
• Heroin use and addiction are closely linked to property crimes like theft and burglary.
• Heroin is one of the most commonly seized drugs by law enforcement agencies around the world.

Heroin and Treatment Statistics

• Methadone and buprenorphine are effective medications for treating heroin addiction.
• Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) can reduce the risk of overdose, improve health outcomes, and increase the likelihood of recovery.
• In 2019, only 34% of people who received treatment for heroin addiction in the US received medication-assisted treatment.
• Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and contingency management (CM) are effective behavioral therapies for treating heroin addiction.
• Residential treatment programs and outpatient programs are both effective for treating heroin addiction.
• The success rate for heroin addiction treatment is higher when it is combined with other forms of support like peer counseling and support groups.

The Top 10 Countries with the Lowest Heroin Use

1. Japan - 0.01%
2. South Korea - 0.01%
3. Israel - 0.02%
4. Singapore - 0.02%
5. Saudi Arabia - 0.03%
6. United Arab Emirates (UAE) - 0.04%
7. Qatar - 0.05%
8. Kuwait - 0.06%
9. Bahrain - 0.07%
10. Oman - 0.09%

Top 10 Countries with the Highest Heroin Use

1. Iran - 3.6%
2. Russia - 2.9%
3. Afghanistan - 2.7%
4. Kazakhstan - 1.8%
5. Belarus - 1.7%
6. Uzbekistan - 1.6%
7. Estonia - 1.5%
8. Ukraine - 1.4%
9. Kyrgyzstan - 1.0%
10. Tajikistan-0 .9%

Heroin and Demographics Statistics

• Heroin addiction affects people of all ages, races, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
• In the US, white people are more likely to die from a heroin overdose than any other race.
• In 2019, over 10,000 people aged 25-34 died from heroin overdoses in the US.
• Heroin use and addiction are more common among people who live in poverty.
• The opioid epidemic and heroin addiction have had a disproportionate impact on rural communities in the US.

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International Statistics of Heroin

• Afghanistan produces approximately 80% of the world's opium, the raw material used to make heroin.
• The majority of the world's heroin, around 90%, comes from Afghanistan and is trafficked through Iran, Pakistan, and Turkey.
• In Europe, an estimated 1.3 million people aged 15-64 used heroin in the past year, representing 0.4% of the population in this age group.
• In the US, an estimated 626,000 people aged 12 or older reported using heroin in the past year, representing 0.2% of the population in this age group.
• Heroin use and addiction are also major problems in countries like Russia, where an estimated 2.3 million people use opioids, and China, where an estimated 2.3 million people are addicted to heroin.
• The global heroin market is estimated to be worth over $50 billion per year.

Heroin and Prescription Opioid Statistics

• Approximately 80% of people who use heroin first misused prescription opioids like Oxycontin.
• In 2019, about 3.6% of the US population misused prescription opioids.
• Prescription opioid misuse is more prevalent among women, with approximately 54% of people who misuse prescription opioids being female.
• Overdose deaths involving prescription opioids have decreased by about 13% from 2017 to 2019 in the US. However, heroin and fentanyl overdoses have increased by about 11% and 34%, respectively, during the same time period.

Heroin and Fentanyl Statistics

• Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times more potent than heroin.
• Fentanyl is often added to heroin to increase its potency, which can lead to overdose and death.
• In 2019, fentanyl was involved in 59% of all opioid overdose deaths in the US.
• Fentanyl is responsible for the majority of opioid overdose deaths in Canada.
• Fentanyl is becoming more common in Europe and Australia.
• Fentanyl is up to 50 times more potent than heroin.
• 59% of all opioid overdose deaths in the US in 2019 involved fentanyl.
• Fentanyl is responsible for the majority of opioid overdose deaths in Canada.

FAQs about Heroin Statistics

What is heroin?

Heroin is a highly addictive drug that is derived from morphine, which is extracted from the opium poppy. It can be injected, smoked, or snorted.

What are the signs of heroin use?

The signs of heroin use include constricted pupils, slowed breathing, nodding off, sudden changes in behavior or appearance, and track marks on the skin.

How does heroin affect the brain and body?

Heroin affects the brain by binding to opioid receptors and increasing dopamine levels. This can lead to feelings of euphoria and relaxation. However, it also slows down breathing and heart rate, which can be deadly in high doses.

Can you overdose on heroin?

Yes, it is possible to overdose on heroin. An overdose can cause respiratory depression, coma, and death.

What are the long-term effects of using heroin?

Long-term heroin use can lead to addiction, physical dependence, collapsed veins (if injected), infection of the heart lining and valves (if injected), liver disease or kidney disease (if taken orally), pulmonary complications (if smoked), and mental health disorders like depression and anxiety.

Is there treatment for heroin addiction?

Yes, there are several effective treatments for heroin addiction including medication-assisted treatment (MAT) with drugs like methadone or buprenorphine; behavioral therapies like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) or contingency management (CM); residential treatment programs; outpatient programs; peer counseling; support groups; and more.

Conclusion

Heroin addiction is a complex and growing problem that affects millions of people around the world. Understanding the impact of heroin addiction is essential for developing effective prevention and treatment strategies. By knowing these 55 heroin statistics, we can work towards reducing the harm caused by this dangerous drug.

References

https://nida.nih.gov/research-topics/trends-statistics/overdose-death-rates

https://www.ojp.gov/ncjrs/virtual-library/abstracts/heroin-statistics-can-be-made-more-reliable

https://www.addictioncenter.com/addiction/addiction-statistics/

https://www.unodc.org/documents/wdr/WDR_2010/2.0_Drug_statistics_and_Trends.pdf