Heroin was very popular in the 60’s and 70’s. It lost its popularity to crack cocaine in the 80’s. However in the 1990’s and 2000’s, opiod pain killers like Oxycontin (Oxycodone) became extremely popular and commonly prescribed by doctors. Closer regulation and scrutiny of these medications in recent years has led to declines in their prescriptions. Since then, heroin use has been on the rise in the U.S. America obtains most of its heroin from Mexico. With these circumstances Mexico has ramped up its growth of heroin to keep up with the demand while keeping the price of the drug low. Heroin use is now being recognized as a drug that is passing all economic and racial lines. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention completed a study showing deaths due to overdose with opioids had increased in almost every county with approximately 125 opiod deaths each day in the U.S.
The Economist November 23, 2014
New York Times January 25, 2016