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Heroin consumption in the United States continually increase and it was revealed that the greatest rise in heroin consumption was among white people. In 2015, 63 person of drug-related deaths was due to opioid abuse, as per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The numbers involving drug-related overdoses are starting to reach alarming heights. It was mentioned that more than 52,000 died from drug overdose in the United States last year. Statistics reveal that drug-related death cases quadrupled since 2009.

Opioid and heroin abuse continually increase in numbers as of 2017 and studies reveal that the greatest rise in heroin consumption was among white people. Researchers mentioned that the pattern of heroin abuse greatly shifted since 2001.

The number of people who have used heroin has increased almost five-fold, and the number of people who abuse heroin has reportedly tripled through the years. They then came into conclusion that the most drastic increase was found among white male users, according to JAMA.

"These trends are concerning because increases in the prevalence of heroin use and use disorder have been occurring among vulnerable individuals who have few resources to overcome problems associated with use," according to the study published by the National Institutes of Health.

The increasing numbers of opioid abuse among white men may be alarming but Caleb Banta-Green a professor of health from the University of Washington pointed out that there's treatment for their addiction. He mentioned that effective medications can potentially end opioid and heroin abuse as methadone and buprenorphine reduced the chances of meeting death.

"The good news is that among all drugs of abuse, heroin and opioids have by far the best treatment medications available. Methadone and buprenorphine have proven effectiveness data, they not only reduce the chances of dying from an opioid overdose by 50%, they support people being in recovery from their addiction and reduce health care costs and improve a wide array of other outcomes," Green stated during an interview with the CNN.