Heroin and prescription opioids are highly addictive drugs that can cause many physical and psychological issues. Short-term effects can include drowsiness, confusion, euphoria, and slowed breathing. Long-term misuse can lead to infections, addiction, and death. In 2017, the federal government declared a public health emergency around the opioid epidemic and prescription drug abuse. 2023 national data indicates there were 81,083 overdose deaths involving opioids. 

There is a direct link between prescription drugs and heroin use/abuse. Studies have shown that 80% of heroin users first misused prescription opioids. Current data from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) shows that fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that is lethal in very small amounts, is now estimated to be in 60% of all counterfeit pills and is also being cut into the U.S. heroin supply. This can turn any use, even first-time experimentation, into a lethal overdose.