Law360, New York ( December 11, 2015, 1:07 PM EST) -- American Indian and Alaska Native families and communities, like much of the nation, are struggling with an epidemic of prescription opioid abuse and heroin use. The federal government reports that the number of overdose deaths in the United States involving prescription opioids quadrupled between 1999 and 2013, with more than 16,000 deaths in 2013 alone. Heroin overdose deaths are also on the rise, nearly doubling between 2011 and 2013. Prescription drug addiction is identified as a major factor in people turning to heroin use, a substance that may be less expensive and easier to obtain than prescriptions. In some communities, the effects of the misuse of prescription opioids for pain relief and the use of heroin have surpassed those of alcohol addiction. While governmental and nongovernmental entities have given increased attention to this issue, the problem has not yet been brought under control. Addressing addiction and the prevention of it demands collaborative community-wide efforts involving a wide array of community leaders, health care providers and educators, law enforcement, counselors and social service providers, among others. It also requires resources....