Use of opiate based pain killers reached its peak in 2010-2011. However, a recent research proposes that the abuse of painkillers like morphine and oxycodone are started to decline in the United Sates.

The researchers attributed to the new regulations, strategies and awareness programs related to painkillers. It appears like the guidelines associated with the abuse of painkillers are working to a great extent. However, the new laws makes it difficult task for patients to get opioid drugs without prescriptions. These factors play a vital role in the fall of abusive use of opioid pain killers.

Surprisingly, researchers figured out that the decline in drug abuse is somehow connected to the increase in the consumption of Heroin. ‘

Dr. Adam Bisaga, an addiction psychiatrist at the New York State Psychiatric Institute informs that it seems like that majority of the opioid drug addicts switched to heroin. Nevertheless, the drop in the painkiller abuse is still good news for the concerned authorities. However, more efforts are required in order to completely eradicate the habit.

As per the reports of Center of Disease Control and Prevention, deaths related to the overdose of heroin mounted up in the past two years. The latest survey reveals that the number of deaths climbed up to 39 percent in 2013.The overdose of heroin killed around 8,257 people in 2012. In comparison, the death rate touched sky with 43,982 figures in 2013.

The study is explained in detail in latest edition of New England Journal of Medicine.