In North Dakota, an estimated 60% of the male prison population are meth users. 80- 90% of the female prison population were incarcerated for meth related offenses.

The route of administration among heroin users entering treatment has been changing. In 1993, 74% of admissions for heroin abuse were injectors. By 1999, this had declined to 66%. There was an increase in admission for heroin inhalation for 23% in 1993 to 28% in 1999.

Another one of the risks of heroin use is that all heroin users--not just those who inject the drug-- becoming addicted. Individuals who abuse heroin over time develop a tolerance for the drug, meaning that they must use increasingly larger doses to achieve the same intensity or effect they experienced when they first began using the drug. Heroin ceases to produce feelings of pleasure in users who develop tolerance; instead, these users must continue taking the drug simply to feel normal. Addicted individuals who stop using the drug may experience withdrawal symptoms, which include heroin craving, restlessness, muscle and bone pain, and vomiting.

Living life without the need for drugs or alcohol is why people enroll in a drug rehab center. People who are addicted to drugs or alcohol often require help to stop using. An addict may try many times to quit on their own to no avail. This is because addiction is a very difficult problem to recover from without help. It takes time and a lot of effort to learn how to live drug-free and change one's approach and outlook about life in general.