By 4 Therapy

The U.S. states of Main and Vermont are among the many areas of the nation that have been experiencing troubling increases in the rates of drug abuse involving opiates such as heroin and certain prescription painkillers.

According to Donald West of Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center -- who was interviewed by WCAX-TV, prescription painkiller abuse and opiate addiction has become common among young adults.There were hardly cases of opiate dependency reported in New England 10 years ago, Wes said, but now the rate of opiate abuse and addiction in the area has risen to epidemic levels .

Police lieutenant Phil Roberts told WCAX-TV that drugs have caused many people to carry out crimes that may not have otherwise been committed. A string of robberies had recently been reported in Vermont pharmacies by individuals looking to get their fix, as opposed to money.

About 8 percent of Americans age 12 and older admitted to abusing illicit substances within a 30-day period in 2008, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Drug rehab programs that employ medically assisted rehab and recovery have proved to be effective in helping individuals overcome these dangerous addictions.