I work in a methadone clinic.

Our biggest demographic of "new" clients are people of all ages (and many many are young) who have become addicted to opiates through use of pain pills - oxys, percocets, etc. Often these were prescribed first; sometimes used recreationally (kids think it's ok if it's in the medicine cabinet).

Once the addiction kicks in, pills are very expensive on the street; a bag of heroin maybe half the price or less. People move from pills to heroin.

The old stereotype of people shooting up in the ghetto still exists but it's equaled by sniffing, shooting, etc in nice apartments and house.

And, yes, there are people who try it and don't get hooked and people who use it and function fairly normally. At least for a while.

I could go on but I've got to go run an OD Prevention Group.