Study: Painkiller Misuse Up Among Young Adults

Study: Painkiller Misuse Up Among Young Adults
February 11, 2009

Research Summary

A study from the Substance Abuse and Mental Heath Services Administration (SAMHSA) says that prescription painkiller misuse among young adults has increased even as non-medical use by teenagers decreased between 2002 and 2007, HealthDay News reported Feb. 9.

The study, Trends in Nonmedical Use of Prescription Pain Relievers: 2002-2007, found that misuse of prescription painkillers increased from 4.1 percent in 2006 to 4.6 percent in 2007 among young adults.

On the other hand, researchers found that non-medical use of painkillers by teenagers decreased to 2.7 percent in 2007, down from 3.2 percent in 2002.

Overall, about 5.2 million people ages 12 years and older said they had used prescription pain relievers non-medically in the past month.

COMMENTS ON THIS ARTICLE:

Posted by Donald B Parsons on 15 Feb 09 08:33 AM EST

What I'm getting from this article is that the 4.1% in 2006 to 4.6% rise in 2007 young adult misuse are the patients who hold the prescription are abusing their own meds. "On the other hand, researchers found that non-medical use of painkillers by teenagers decreased to 2.7 percent in 2007, down from 3.2 percent in 2002." I gather these are the teens just taking others meds recreationally. No matter what the article as a whole says the bottom line is the one that is scariest. "Overall, about 5.2 million people ages 12 years and older said they had used prescription pain relievers non-medically in the past month."

Access to Prescription Drugs Easier for Teens

One in Five Teens Share Their Prescription Drugs with Friends

1 in 5 Teens Misuse Prescription Drugs

Nonmedical Prescription Drug Use by 12th Graders

National Survey of American Attitudes on Substance Abuse XIII: Teens and Parents

The NSDUH Report: Nonmedical Use of Pain Relievers in Substate Regions: 2004 to 2006