Top 10 Prescription Drug Abuse Statistics
- Prescription drug abuse is the fastest-growing drug problem in the United States, with over 18 million people abusing prescription drugs in the past year.
- In 2018, there were over 67,000 drug overdose deaths in the United States, with over two-thirds of those deaths involving prescription or illicit opioids.
- Over 10% of high school seniors in the United States have reported using prescription drugs for non-medical reasons.
- Opioid painkillers are responsible for more deaths in the United States than heroin and cocaine combined.
- Women are more likely to be prescribed opioids and are more likely to become addicted to prescription painkillers than men.
- Overdose deaths involving benzodiazepines, such as Xanax and Valium, have increased by 600% since 2000.
- Prescription stimulants, such as Adderall and Ritalin, are commonly abused by college students as study aids.
- Over 80% of people who use heroin started by misusing prescription opioids.
- Overdose deaths involving synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, have increased by 1,000% since 2013.
- Prescription drug abuse costs the United States over $78 billion each year in healthcare costs, lost productivity, and criminal justice expenses.
Drug Abuse Prevalence
- In the United States, prescription drug abuse is more prevalent than cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine abuse combined.
- According to a survey conducted by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, approximately 18 million people in the United States aged 12 and older have misused prescription drugs at least once in their lifetime.
- The percentage of adults who reported using prescription drugs for non-medical reasons varies across different states in the US. For instance, while only 4% of adults in Hawaii reported non-medical use of prescription drugs, over 16% of adults in Oklahoma reported doing so.
- Prescription drug abuse is also a growing problem outside the US. In Canada, for example, opioid-related deaths increased by over 34% between January 2016 and December 2018.
- Europe has also seen an increase in prescription drug abuse. A study published by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction found that opioid use has become widespread across Europe, with countries such as Germany and France reporting high levels of opioid consumption among their populations.
Most Common Causes of Prescription Drug Abuse
- The most common cause of prescription drug abuse is the desire to experience the euphoric effects of the medication. Research shows that over 50% of individuals who abuse prescription drugs do so for this reason.
- Another common cause of prescription drug abuse is the belief that they are safer than illicit drugs. Approximately 20% of individuals who abuse prescription medications believe that they are less harmful than street drugs.
- Easy access to prescription drugs is also a significant factor in their misuse, with nearly 60% of people who use prescription drugs for non-medical purposes getting them from friends or family members.
- Finally, mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression can lead to prescription drug abuse. Studies suggest that up to 30% of individuals with mental health disorders also struggle with substance abuse issues, including prescription drug addiction.
Drug Abuse Statistics by Age Group
- Among teenagers aged 12 to 17 years, prescription drug abuse is a growing concern, with over 4% of high school seniors reporting non-medical use of prescription opioids in the past year.
- Young adults aged 18 to 25 have the highest rates of prescription drug abuse, with approximately one in four young adults reporting non-medical use of prescription drugs at least once in their lifetime.
- Adults aged 26 to 49 also have a high prevalence of prescription drug abuse, with over 13% reporting non-medical use of prescription drugs.
- Older adults aged 50 and above are also at risk for prescription drug abuse, with approximately 6% reporting non-medical use of prescription drugs. This age group is also more likely to experience adverse effects from these drugs due to age-related changes in metabolism and other health conditions.
Drug Abuse Statistics by Gender
- Women are more likely to be prescribed opioids and are more likely to become addicted to prescription painkillers than men.
- In the United States, women aged 45 to 54 have the highest rate of opioid overdose deaths, with a 200% increase from 1999 to 2017.
- Men have higher rates of prescription stimulant abuse, with approximately one in five college-aged men reporting non-medical use of prescription stimulants.
- Men also have higher rates of benzodiazepine abuse, with over 10% of men reporting non-medical use compared to 6% of women.
- Overdose deaths involving synthetic opioids are higher among men than women, with men accounting for approximately two-thirds of all synthetic opioid-related deaths.
Drug Abuse Statistics by Ethnicity
- In the United States, the highest rates of prescription drug abuse are among Native Americans and Alaska Natives, with a reported 12.9% misusing prescription drugs.
- African Americans have the lowest rate of prescription drug abuse at 5.9%, while Caucasians have a rate of 7.6%.
- Hispanic/Latinos have a rate of 8.1% for prescription drug abuse, while Asian Americans have a rate of 3.4%.
- It is important to note that these statistics may not account for underreporting or cultural differences in reporting and seeking treatment for drug abuse.
Marijuana Usage Statistics
- In the United States, marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug, with over 43 million people reporting using marijuana in the past year.
- Approximately 8% of Americans aged 12 or older reported using marijuana in the past month.
- Among high school seniors in the United States, approximately 35% reported using marijuana in the past year.
- In Canada, where recreational use of marijuana was legalized in 2018, over 15% of Canadians aged 15 or older reported using cannabis in the first quarter of 2021.
- A survey conducted by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction found that cannabis is the most commonly used illicit drug in Europe, with over 17 million young adults (aged 15-34) having used cannabis in the past year.
Drug Trafficking Statistics
- According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, approximately 75% of people who misuse prescription opioids obtain them from friends or family members, while the remaining 25% obtain them through other sources such as theft, doctor shopping or online pharmacies.
- The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime estimates that pharmaceutical opioids account for approximately 70% of all opioid seizures worldwide.
- In the United States, law enforcement agencies have reported an increase in counterfeit pill seizures in recent years. For example, in 2019, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) seized over 44 kilograms of illicitly manufactured fentanyl pills in California alone.
Opioid Addiction Statistics
- Over 3 million people in the United States are addicted to prescription opioids.
- Prescription opioids are highly addictive and can lead to physical dependence in as little as 5 days.
- Over 17,000 people die each year in the United States from prescription opioid overdoses.
- Overdose deaths involving prescription opioids have increased by 400% since 1999.
- The number of prescriptions for opioids in the United States has quadrupled since 1999.
Psychotherapeutic Abuse Statistics
- According to a survey conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), approximately 18% of people who abused prescription drugs in the past year did so with psychotherapeutic drugs.
- The same survey found that women were more likely than men to abuse psychotherapeutic drugs, with 59% of those who reported psychotherapeutic drug abuse being female.
Stimulant Addiction Statistics
- Over 2 million people in the United States are addicted to prescription stimulants.
- Prescription stimulants can cause serious health problems, including heart attack, stroke, and seizures.
- Overdose deaths involving prescription stimulants have increased by 30% since 2011.
Sedative Addiction Statistics
- Over 1 million people in the United States are addicted to prescription sedatives.
- Prescription sedatives can cause respiratory depression and death when taken in large doses.
- Overdose deaths involving prescription sedatives have increased by 400% since 1999.
Painkiller Abuse Statistics
- Painkiller abuse is a significant problem in the United States, with over 2 million people reporting misusing prescription painkillers for the first time in 2018.
- Approximately 21 to 29% of patients who are prescribed opioids for chronic pain misuse them.
- Over 50% of individuals who misuse prescription painkillers obtained them from a friend or relative for free.
- Prescription painkiller abuse has been linked to an increased risk of heroin use, with approximately 80% of heroin users reporting prior use of prescription opioids.
Prescription Drug Abuse Statistics by Country
- In Australia, prescription opioids were responsible for 63% of drug-induced deaths in 2019.
- Prescription drug abuse is also a growing concern in the United Kingdom, with over 1.4 million people reportedly addicted to prescription drugs such as benzodiazepines and opioid painkillers.
- In Germany, the number of people seeking treatment for opioid addiction increased by 33% between 2013 and 2018.
- According to a survey conducted by the National Health Service (NHS) in England, approximately one in every eight adults aged 16 to 59 years had taken a prescription-only painkiller not prescribed to them in the past year.
- In Mexico, prescription drug abuse has become a significant public health issue, with over 60% of drug-related deaths involving prescription drugs such as fentanyl and tramadol.
Prescription Drug Abuse Statistics by State
- According to a report by the CDC, West Virginia has the highest rate of prescription drug overdose deaths in the United States, with 52.8 deaths per 100,000 people.
- Kentucky and New Hampshire follow closely behind with rates of 37.2 and 35.8 deaths per 100,000 people respectively.
- Other states with high rates of prescription drug overdose deaths include Ohio (32.9), Rhode Island (28.2), and Pennsylvania (27.3).
- North Dakota has the lowest rate of prescription drug overdose deaths in the country with only 5.7 deaths per 100,000 people.
- Other states with relatively low rates of prescription drug overdose deaths include Nebraska (6.1), Iowa (6.2), and South Dakota (6.4).
Misuse Statistics
- Over 11 million people in the United States have misused prescription opioids in the past year.
- Over 6 million people in the United States have misused prescription stimulants in the past year.
- Over 4 million people in the United States have misused prescription sedatives in the past year.
- Over 80% of people who misuse prescription opioids do not have a prescription for the drug.
- Over 50% of people who misuse prescription opioids obtain them from a friend or relative.
- Over 70% of people who misuse prescription stimulants obtain them from a friend or relative.
- Over 80% of people who misuse prescription sedatives obtain them from a friend or relative.
- Over 60% of people who misuse prescription drugs also use alcohol.
- Over 50% of people who misuse prescription drugs also use marijuana.
- Prescription drug abuse is more common among young adults aged 18 to 25 than among any other age group.
- Over 80% of people who use prescription opioids for non-medical reasons also use other drugs.
- Over 60% of people who use prescription stimulants for non-medical reasons also use other drugs.
- Over 40% of people who use prescription sedatives for non-medical reasons also use other drugs.
- Over 60% of people who misuse prescription drugs do not believe that their behavior is risky or harmful.
Impact and Consequences of Drug Abuse
- Prescription drug abuse is a leading cause of emergency room visits in the United States.
- Over 70% of emergency room visits related to prescription drug abuse are due to opioid overdoses.
- Prescription drug abuse is a major contributor to the opioid epidemic in the United States.
- Over 90% of people who use heroin started by misusing prescription opioids.
- Prescription drug abuse is more common in rural areas than in urban areas.
- Over 70% of people who misuse prescription drugs obtain them from a doctor.
- Over 30% of people who misuse prescription drugs obtain them from multiple doctors.
- Over 70% of people who misuse prescription drugs obtain them for free from friends or family members.
- Over 80% of people who misuse prescription drugs obtain them from their own medicine cabinet.
- Prescription drug abuse is more common among people with low income and low education levels.
- Over 50% of people who misuse prescription drugs also have a mental health condition.
- Prescription drug abuse is a major contributor to the rising rate of overdose deaths among baby boomers.
- Over 80% of people who misuse prescription drugs do not receive treatment for their addiction.
- Over 50% of people who receive treatment for prescription drug addiction will relapse within a year.
FAQs
What are prescription drugs?
Prescription drugs are medications that are prescribed by a doctor to treat a medical condition. They can include opioids, stimulants, and sedatives.
Why do people misuse prescription drugs?
People may misuse prescription drugs for a variety of reasons, including to get high, to relieve stress or anxiety, or to improve academic or athletic performance.
What are the signs of prescription drug abuse?
Signs of prescription drug abuse can include changes in behavior or mood, increased secrecy or isolation, and physical symptoms such as drowsiness or slurred speech.
Can you become addicted to prescription drugs?
Yes, prescription drugs can be highly addictive and can lead to physical dependence in as little as 5 days.
What are the risks of misusing prescription drugs?
Misusing prescription drugs can lead to serious health problems such as overdose, addiction, and respiratory depression. It can also have negative effects on relationships, work performance, and overall quality of life.
How is prescription drug abuse treated?
Treatment for prescription drug abuse typically involves a combination of medication-assisted treatment and behavioral therapy. In some cases, inpatient treatment may be necessary for severe addiction.
How to prevent prescription drug abuse?
- Education: Educate doctors, pharmacists, and patients about the risks of prescription drug abuse. This includes providing information about the potential for addiction and the importance of following dosage instructions.
- Monitoring: Implement monitoring systems to track prescriptions and identify patients who may be at risk for abuse. This can include prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs) and electronic prescribing systems.
- Safe Disposal: Encourage safe disposal of unused and expired medications to prevent them from falling into the wrong hands. This can include take-back programs and education on proper disposal methods.
- Alternative Treatments: Explore alternative treatments for pain management, such as physical therapy, exercise, and non-opioid medications.
- Community Action: Engage communities in efforts to prevent prescription drug abuse through public education campaigns, community events, and partnerships between healthcare providers, law enforcement, and other community organizations.
Conclusion
Prescription drug abuse is a preventable and treatable problem, but it requires a comprehensive approach that includes education, prevention, and treatment.
References
https://drugabusestatistics.org/prescription-drug-abuse-statistics/
https://www.drugfreeworld.org/drugfacts/prescription/abuse-international-statistics.html
https://www.justice.gov/archive/ndic/pubs5/5140/index.htm
https://www.addictioncenter.com/addiction/addiction-statistics/
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