HARI SREENIVASAN:

Compared to other drug use, heroin is by no means among the most commonly used drugs. Exact statistics vary, but studies find anywhere from about 300,000 to a million-plus Americans regularly use heroin each month.

But its toll is well known and increasingly worrisome. Its rise has been confirmed in published studies. And in a study of 28 states, the number of heroin deaths jumped by a substantial percentage since 2010.

The Huffington Post is out with a major piece reported by Jason Cherkis. He is looking at its rise in Kentucky and specifically about a debate there and elsewhere over breaking addiction.

One medication being viewed as an alternative to methadone is known as Suboxone, but there is not agreement. And some experts believe a substance-free approach is the only way to go.

Ryan Grim is the Washington bureau chief for The Huffington Post and the editor of the article, joins me now.

So, how significant of a problem are we looking at, when statistics are so hard to find, especially when there are so many other drugs and other drug problems in America that out — kind of outweigh heroin?