In 2013, more than 46,000 Americans died from drug overdoses, including 16,000 from prescription painkillers, and about 8,000 from heroin
Between 2013 and 2014, heroin use in the U.S. rose by 51 percent. Heroin addiction is fueled by legal drug addiction to opioid painkillers which, from a chemical standpoint are nearly identical to heroin
The U.S. federal government is worsening the heroin epidemic by supporting use of exceptionally dangerous painkillers while preventing the use of medical marijuana, which can offer non-toxic pain relief