Prescription Drug Information
Prescription Drug Abuse
The non-medical use of prescription drugs is a serious public health
concern. Non-medical use of prescription drugs like opioids, central
nervous system (CNS) depressants, and stimulants can lead to abuse and
addiction, characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use.
In 1999, an estimated 4 million people, about 2 percent of the
population age 12 and older, were currently (use in past month) using
prescription drugs non-medically. Of these, 2.6 million misused pain
relievers, 1.3 million misused sedatives and tranquilizers, and 0.9
million misused stimulants.
CLICK HERE To See Commonly Prescribed Medications: Use and Consequences
While prescription drug abuse affects many Americans, some trends of
particular concern can be seen among older adults, adolescents, and
women.
The misuse of prescribed medications may be the most common form of
drug abuse among the elderly. Older people are prescribed medications
about three times more frequently than the general population, and have
poorer compliance with directions for use.
National Household Survey on Drug Abuse research figures indicate
that the sharpest increases in new users of prescription drugs for
non-medical purposes occur in 12 to 17 and 18 to 25 year-olds. Among 12
to 14 year-olds, psychotherapeutics (e.g., pain killers, tranquilizers,
sedatives, and stimulants) were reported to be one of two primary drugs
used.
Overall, men and women have roughly similar rates of nonmedical use
of prescription drugs, with the exception of 12 to 17 year olds. In this
age group, young women are more likely than young men to use
psychotherapeutic drugs nonmedically. Also, among women and men who use
either a sedative, anti-anxiety drug, or hypnotic, women are almost
twice as likely to become addicted.
The Drug Abuse Warning Network, which collects data on drug-related
hospital emergency room episodes, reported that mentions of hydrocodone
as a cause for visiting an emergency room increased 37 percent among all
age groups from 1997 to 1999. Also, mentions of clonazepam increased 102
percent since 1992.
|
