SAN DIEGO -- Painkillers like OxyContin are the "new heroin" and the number of people addicted to the opiates has surged in San Diego, the nation's former drug czar said Monday.

When abused, painkillers give a powerful high that almost always results in addiction.

The number of people being treated for painkiller addictions at CRC Health Group treatment clinics in San Diego has risen from 5 percent to 25 percent over the past five years, said former drug czar Gen. Barry McCaffrey.

"1.4 million of us are now using diverted legal narcotics," said McCaffrey.

McCaffery said the problem begins with the misperception that legally prescribed, opiate-based pain killers -- such as fentanyl and vicodin -- aren't as addictive or dangerous as heroin itself.

McCaffrey said there are ways to treat opiate addiction, including using methadone -- a regulated substance used to treat addicts by giving them a similar high.

Dr. Phil Herschman, president of CRC Health Group's opiate treatment program, said that easier access to painkillers across the Mexican border may be a factor for the addiction increases in San Diego.

"We have 5 clinics for opiate addiction. San Diego definitely mirrors the national trend in addiction," said Herschman.