US authorities warn of heroin epidemic in the country

U.S. officials on Tuesday warned of the heroin epidemic in the United States that had seen a surge in young users and fatal overdoses they described as akin to "a public health care crisis."

"Heroin can be found at every corner of our country," said John Riley, acting deputy administrator of the Drug Enforcement Association (DEA), at a congressional hearing, adding that an increasing number of young people were smoking the drug as " recreational" substance at parties.

According to an analysis by the 2013 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 169,000 persons aged 12 or older used heroin for the first time within the previous 12 months and the average age for first-time heroin use was 24.5 years old, a figure consistent with 2012 estimate of 23 years old.

To divide the group of heroin users by more specific age groups, the NSDUH analysis found that 21,000 people nationally began using heroin when 12 to 17 years old, 66,000 people began using when 18 to 25 years old, and 82,000 began when 26 years and older.

"I've been with DEA almost 30 years and I have to tell you, I have never seen it this bad," said Riley.

The surge in heroin use has already translated into serious health consequence, said Riley, calling the increase in heroin overdose death alarming.

According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heroin deaths nearly quadrupled in the decade between 2002 and 2013.