Persons who begin using prescription drugs non-medically at an early age are more likely to be diagnosed with lifetime prescription drug abuse and dependence, according to an analysis of data from a national household survey.

An estimated 42% of those who reported that their first non-medical use of prescription drugs was at age 13 or younger also had a lifetime diagnosis of prescription drug abuse, compared to 17% of those who first used prescription drugs non-medically at age 21 or older. Similar results were found for lifetime prescription drug dependence.

Interestingly, "early non-medical users of prescription sedatives, tranquilizers, and opioids were generally more likely to become non-medical users of other prescription drug classes than to develop sedative, tranquilizer or opioid use disorders." For example, persons who initiated non-medical use of prescription sedatives at age 13 or younger were more likely to eventually report non-medical use of prescription tranquilizers, opioids or stimulants than to be diagnosed with a sedative use disorder.

The exception was for non-medical users of prescription stimulants, who were more likely to develop stimulant use disorders than to become non-medical users of other prescription drugs.

For details, including data charts, source information and caveats, download the PDF.

Reprinted from CESAR Fax, a weekly, one-page overview of timely substance abuse trends or issues, from the Center for Substance Abuse Research (CESAR) at the University of Maryland.