In 2014, two million people were opioid dependent in the United States, and over 28,000 people died because of opioid related deaths. Opioids are drugs that help reduce pain, because they switch off the users pain receptors. They are currently widely distributed and prescribed in the United States. Heroin is a type of opioid derived from the same poppy plant as prescribed medicines like morphine, oxycodone, and hydrocodone. Both heroin and prescribed opioids give users a sense of euphoria, and make them crave it when they are not using.
