A new report from the federal government says America's growing addiction to heroin is reaching more teenagers and young adults.

The death rate grew from 1 for every 100,000 people in 2010 to 2.7 for every 100,000 in 2013, after rising much more slowly over the previous 10 years, the new report shows. Overall, there were 43,982 drug overdose deaths in 2013, making them the top injury-related killer in the country. Of those 16,235 involved opioids and 8,257 were caused by heroin.

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White males between the ages of 18 and 44 became by far the biggest demographic group involved in heroin overdose deaths over the 13 years examined by the study. The death rate for men was nearly four times as high as it was for women.

"They are seeing that shift. We are seeing that it is a younger drug, and it is primarily white, Middle America population that it is effecting," said April Demers, Director of the Monroe County Substance Abuse Coalition.

Demers said the path to heroin addiction frequently starts with prescription drug abuse.

Authorities have tried to crack down on pill mills and required reformulation of the prescription medications to make them more difficult to use recreationally. The cheaper price of heroin also increased its popularity.

The death rate from opioids such as OxyContin, Demerol and Vicodin declined slightly, from 5.4 to 5.1 per 100,000 people between 2010 and 2013.

The data is no surprise to anyone who has been following news reports of heroin's popularity and the drug's toll. Actor Philip Seymour Hoffman died of a heroin overdose 13 months ago, putting a spotlight on the issue.

Concerned parents should be looking for changes in their children's behavior, mood, items missing from the house, or even the friends they may bring home. These could be indicators of drug use, Demers said.

Tagsheroin, drug overdose, heroin overdose, drug related death, Drugs