Nonmedical Pain Medication Abuse
2.4 Million Started Using Pain Relievers in Past Year
More persons initiated nonmedical use of narcotic pain relievers in the past year than initiated use of marijuana or cocaine. This is the finding of a new report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration that extracted data from the 2004 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.
The new report, “Nonmedical Users of Pain Relievers: Characteristics of Recent Initiates”, shows that 2.4 million persons ages 12 or older initiated nonmedical use of prescription pain relievers in the 12 months prior to the survey, 2.1 million initiated use of marijuana, and 1 million initiated use of cocaine.
“While overall illicit drug use continues to decline among our young people we are always paying close attention to the data to identify any potential areas of concern,” said SAMHSA Administrator Charles Curie. “Abuse of prescription pain medication is dangerous and can lead to the destructive path of addiction. The initiation rates show we must continue our efforts help the public confront and reduce all drug abuse.”
The new report shows that 48 percent of new initiates used Vicodin®, Lortab® or Lorcet®; 34.3 percent used Darvocet®, Darvon®, or Tylenol® with codeine; 20 percent used Percocet®, Percodan® or Tylox®; 18.4 percent used generic hydrocodone; 14.3 percent used generic codeine; 8.4 percent used Oxycontin®; and 4.3 percent used morphine. Over half of persons who initiated nonmedical use of pain medications (54.9 percent) in 2004 were female.
Further, the report found that only 26.2 percent of the new initiates to pain medications started using pain relievers as their first illicit drug of abuse. Marijuana was used by 66.2 percent prior to starting narcotic pain medications; hallucinogens were used by 24.9 percent; and inhalants were used by 21.3 percent.
The report is available on the web at http://www.oas.samhsa.gov/
More persons initiated nonmedical use of narcotic pain relievers in the past year than initiated use of marijuana or cocaine. This is the finding of a new report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration that extracted data from the 2004 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.
The new report, “Nonmedical Users of Pain Relievers: Characteristics of Recent Initiates”, shows that 2.4 million persons ages 12 or older initiated nonmedical use of prescription pain relievers in the 12 months prior to the survey, 2.1 million initiated use of marijuana, and 1 million initiated use of cocaine.
“While overall illicit drug use continues to decline among our young people we are always paying close attention to the data to identify any potential areas of concern,” said SAMHSA Administrator Charles Curie. “Abuse of prescription pain medication is dangerous and can lead to the destructive path of addiction. The initiation rates show we must continue our efforts help the public confront and reduce all drug abuse.”
The new report shows that 48 percent of new initiates used Vicodin®, Lortab® or Lorcet®; 34.3 percent used Darvocet®, Darvon®, or Tylenol® with codeine; 20 percent used Percocet®, Percodan® or Tylox®; 18.4 percent used generic hydrocodone; 14.3 percent used generic codeine; 8.4 percent used Oxycontin®; and 4.3 percent used morphine. Over half of persons who initiated nonmedical use of pain medications (54.9 percent) in 2004 were female.
Further, the report found that only 26.2 percent of the new initiates to pain medications started using pain relievers as their first illicit drug of abuse. Marijuana was used by 66.2 percent prior to starting narcotic pain medications; hallucinogens were used by 24.9 percent; and inhalants were used by 21.3 percent.
The report is available on the web at http://www.oas.samhsa.gov/
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