A survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed that the heroin addiction in the United States has almost doubled in the past 10 years among white people and women.

According to CDC officials, it can be said that the US is in the grip of a heroin epidemic, where drug abuse has more than doubled among people between the age of 18 and 25.

The survey's data showed that overdose levels also increased to 8,200, which is twice as many as reported in 2011. Furthermore, it was found that the abuse of the drug doubled for women, rising among white people by 114% from 2002 to 2013.

Heroin use has increased across America within most demographics, including men, women, most age groups and all income levels, found the survey.

Researchers associated with the survey noted a 60% increase in the abuse of the drug among people with higher incomes. The number of people using heroin grew by 300,000 between 2002 and 2013, showed the study.

The CDC said in a statement that presently there are about 500,000 people addicted to the drug in the US. The data came from an annual national face-to-face survey conducted by CDC with 67,000 Americans. It included comparisons with data from The National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

CDC health officials said, "Not only are people using heroin, they are also abusing multiple other substances, especially cocaine and prescription opioid painkillers".

The survey found that more than nine in 10 people were found to be using heroin, and 45% of people who used heroin were addicted to prescription opioid painkillers.