It's important to note that the epidemic that people refer to is the overdose epidemic, often labelled the opiate epidemic for whatever reason.

I haven't seen any evidence that actual rates of heroin abuse increasing year over year. Just wealthier people dying from poorly cut drugs at a more alarming rate.

This was the most recent report I could find: https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/NSDUH-FRR1-2...