According to the findings of the Ohio Substance Abuse Monitoring Network's annual report, an addiction to prescription pain medications may also be contributing to an increase in heroin use, the Middletown Journal reported.

Information on drug trends in the annual report was gathered from eight regions in the state from June 2010 through January 2011, according to the news source. The report stated that heroin use has increased in areas such as Dayton due to the wide availability of opioid prescriptions.

For addicts, opioid medications, such as OxyContin, Percocet, Vicodin and methadone, often become too expensive, the news outlet reported. In the case of OxyContin, two or three 80 milligram pills can cost up to $200. The high prices force users to turn to other drugs, including heroin.

A treatment expert told the news source that once a prescription pain pill addict learns that they can get a cheaper high, they might be more willing to switch drugs.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse stated that approximately 2.2 million Americans used prescription medication for nonmedical purposes for the first time in 2009.

Teenagers who have begun using prescription drugs against doctors orders may want to seek help from boarding schools.