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Trends in Prescription Medicated Abuse
2005 Monitoring the Future (MTF) Survey*
MTF assesses the extent and perceptions of drug use among 8th, 10th, and 12th grade students nationwide. In 2003, the survey showed that lifetime, annual, and 30-day** use of tranquilizers had declined significantly from 2002 for 10th- and 12th-graders. This was the first year of decline for 12th-graders after a decade of gradual increase. In general, 8th-graders’ rates of reported tranquilizer use have been considerably lower than those observed in the upper grades. These figures remained statistically unchanged in 2005, with 6.8% of 12th-graders, 4.8% of 10th-graders, and 2.8% of 8th-graders reporting annual use of tranquilizers.
Only 12th grade data are reported for use of sedatives. Lifetime use of sedatives among high school seniors remained statistically unchanged between 2004 (9.9%) and 2005 (10.5%).
Only 12th grade data are reported for abuse of narcotics other than heroin in the MTF. The annual prevalence of this class of drugs had risen considerably, from 3.3% in 1992 to 7% in 2000 and 6.7% in 2001. In 2002, the survey item was changed to incorporate three new specific pain relievers, OxyContin (a controlled-release form of oxycodone that can cause severe health consequences if crushed and ingested), Vicodin (hydrocodone), and Percocet. Following this change, past year use was reported by 9.4% of seniors in 2002, 9.3% in 2003, 9.5% in 2004, and 9.0% in 2005.
Beginning in 2002, new items asking specifically about the use of OxyContin and Vicodin were also added to the survey. Annual use of OxyContin by 12th-graders has risen from 4.0% in 2002 to 5.5% in 2005. Annual OxyContin use has remained more stable in the lower grades since 2002, with 1.8% of 8th-graders and 3.2% of 10th-graders reporting annual use in 2005. The annual prevalence rate for Vicodin was considerably higher than for OxyContin, at 9.5% among 12th-graders, 5.9% among 10th-graders, and 2.6% among 8th-graders in 2005. Considering the addictive potential of oxycodone and hydrocodone, these are disturbingly high rates of use.
2004 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH)***
According to the 2004 NSDUH, an estimated 6.0 million persons, or 2.5% of the population age 12 or older had used prescription psychotherapeutic medications nonmedically in the month prior to being surveyed. This includes 4.4 million using pain relievers, 1.6 million using tranquilizers, 1.2 million using stimulants, and 0.3 million using sedatives.
The estimated number of people aged 12 or older abusing OxyContin in their lifetime increased from 1.9 million in 2002 to 3.1 million in 2004. Increased rates of lifetime OxyContin abuse were seen in each age group, with the largest increase (from 2.6% to 4.3%) occurring among young adults aged 18 to 25. Also among young adults, lifetime abuse of tranquilizers increased from 11.2% in 2002 to 12.2% in 2004, and the proportions abusing any pain reliever and any prescription drug in their lifetime and during the past month also increased over that period. Among youth aged 12 to 17, past year abuse of prescription stimulants declined from 2.6% to 2.0%.
2004 Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN)****
The Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN), which monitors medications and illicit drugs reported in emergency departments (EDs) across the Nation, found that two of the most frequently reported prescription medications in drug abuse-related cases are benzodiazepines (e.g., diazepam, alprazolam, clonazepam, and lorazepam) and opioid pain relievers (e.g., oxycodone, hydrocodone, morphine, methadone, and combinations that include these drugs).
For 2004, DAWN estimates 495,732 ED visits involved in the nonmedical use (i.e., misuse or abuse) of prescription drugs or OTC pharmaceuticals or dietary supplements. Multiple drugs were involved in more than half (57%) of these ED visits.
In 2004, benzodiazepines accounted for 144,385 mentions that were classified as drug abuse cases, and opioid pain relievers accounted for more than 132,207 ED mentions. Methylphenidate, a central nervous system stimulant that has recently captured much public attention, occurred much less frequently. DAWN estimates 1,541 ED visits associated with methylphenidate abuse.