Final answer:
The majority of heroin in the U.S. originates from Mexico, facilitated by the country's organized crime units. The increased movement of heroin into the U.S. has contributed to the opioid epidemic, with Mexican cartels dominating this aspect of the drug trade.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to the Heroin Signature Program (HSP), the majority of heroin in the United States originates from Mexico. In recent decades, Mexican organized crime units have taken a larger role in controlling the drug trade, making deals with South American producers and becoming the main traffickers of drugs into the U.S.
The drug trade, including the production and transit of heroin, has expanded significantly in Mexico due to its ideal location as a transitional area between the South American countries where opium poppies are grown and the United States, which is the primary market for these narcotics.
Heroin is an opioid drug that can be snorted, smoked or injected and is known for causing intense euphoria. However, the increased availability of heroin has contributed significantly to the opioid epidemic in the U.S.
This crisis has been exacerbated by the rise in prescriptions for opioid painkillers, leading many individuals who initially misused prescription drugs to turn to the cheaper and more accessible heroin supplied largely by Mexican cartels.