As per a report by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the nation is witnessing a rise in heroin use and overdose deaths. The significant increase is especially seen among whites and women.

The CDC report is based on the evaluation of data from 2002 to 2013 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. The researchers have also compared demographic and substance-using groups. The researchers said that in the studied period, heroin-related overdose deaths have almost quadrupled.

As per the health officials, more than 8,200 people have lost their lives due to a heroin overdose in 2013. The number is said to be almost twice the deaths seen two years earlier. The report has unveiled some bare facts as well including heroin use has increased by double fold among women since 2002. In the same period, the use of heroin among men has increased 50%.

CDC chief Tom Frieden said around 500,000 people are having the heroin addiction in America. He added that one in 50 may lose his life due to heroin addiction in each year of the addiction.

"That is a remarkably high proportion, and a reflection of how dangerous it is to have a heroin addiction, to have heroin supply from sources where purity may change rapidly, and to be using it by an intravenous route", stated Frieden.

The rise has been seen among all demographic groups. Due to it, a dramatic rise has been seen in deaths.