Transcript Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP)

Prescription Drug Abuse in the
United States
March 2004
Nonmedical use of prescription drugs, reported by
6.2 million persons in 2002, is second only to
marijuana use.
Past Month Users, Ages 12 and Older (in Millions)
14.6
Marijuana
6.2
Prescription Drugs
2.0
Cocaine
(incl. crack)
Crack
0.6
Ecstasy
0.7
Meth
0.6
Inhalants
0.6
Heroin
0.2
LSD
0.1
0
5
10
Source: SAMHSA, 2002 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.
2/2004
15
Pain relievers account for the largest portion of
nonmedical use of prescription drugs.
Past Month Users, Ages 12 and Older (Thousands)
6,210
Prescription Drugs
4,377
Pain Relievers
1,804
Tranquilizers
1,218
Stimulants
436
Sedatives
0
1,000
2,000
3,000
4,000
Source: SAMHSA, 2002 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.
2/2004
5,000
6,000
7,000
Nonmedical use of prescription drugs is most prevalent
among young adults and youth.
Users (Percentage)
30.0
27.7
12-17
18-25
26 and older
19.3
20.0
14.2
13.7
9.2
10.0
4.5
5.4
4.0
2.0
0.0
Lifetime
2/2004
Past Year
Source: SAMHSA, 2002 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.
Past Month
Over 2 million are estimated to be dependent on or
abusing prescription drugs in the past year.
Past Year Dependent/Abusers, Ages 12 or Older (in Thousands)
4,294
Marijuana
2,018
Prescription Drugs
1,488
Cocaine
426
Hallucinogens
Heroin
214
Inhalants
180
0
1,000
2,000
3,000
Source: SAMHSA, 2002 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.
1/2004
4,000
5,000
The rate of Vicodin® use in the past year ranks
second to marijuana use among 12th graders in 2003.
Past Year Users (Percent)
34.9
Marijuana
10.5
Vicodin®
9.9
Amphetamine
6.7
Tranquilizers
Sedatives
6.0
Hallucinogens
5.9
Cocaine
4.8
OxyContin®
4.5
Ecstasy
4.5
0
10
20
Source: University of Michigan, 2003 Monitoring the Future study.
2/2004
30
40
Emergency department mentions of narcotic analgesics
(pain relievers) rose steadily and have overtaken
benzodiazepines (sedatives) in 2002.
Number of mentions
125,000
100,000
75,000
50,000
25,000
Benzodiazepines
Narcotic analgesics
0
1995
2/2004
1996
1997
1998
Source: SAMHSA, Drug Abuse Warning Network.
1999
2000
2001
2002
Oxycodone and hydrocodone both registered
substantial increases in emergency department
mentions in the last 5 years.
Number of mentions
30,000
Hydrocodone
Oxycodone
20,000
10,000
0
1995
2/2004
1996
1997
1998
Source: SAMHSA, Drug Abuse Warning Network.
1999
2000
2001
2002
Prescription Drug Diversion Control Funding
Dollars (in Millions)
$150
$138
$119
$100
$89
$50
$0
FY 2003
FY 2004
FY 2005
Source: DEA, Diversion Control Fee Account (DCFA).
For FY 2005, the funding shown represents the portion of DEA’s DCFA relating to prescription drug control.
2/2004