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

According to SAMHSA's Office of Applied Studies (OAS), mental health and substance abuse problems affect every local community throughout the U.S. -- but in unique, and sometimes surprising ways. This report offers highly detailed analyses of the substance abuse and mental health problems occurring within these smaller geographical areas.

Data from SAMHSA's 2004 to 2006 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) were combined with involved responses from 203,870 people age 12 or older in order to determine rates of nonmedical use of pain relievers in each of the 345 substate regions of the U.S. representing all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Key findings include:

The past year nonmedical use of pain relievers ranged from a low of 2.48% in a ward of the District of Columbia to a high of 7.92% in northwest Florida.
Of the 15 substate regions with the highest rates of nonmedical use of pain relievers, 10 of the highest substate regions were in the South and 5 were in the West.
Of the 15 substate regions with the lowest rates of nonmedical use of pain relievers, 7 of the lowest substate regions were in the South, 4 were in the Midwest, 3 were in the Northeast, and 1 was in the West.

http://oas.samhsa.gov/2k8/pain/substate.cfm

Publication Year: 2008

Publisher

Office of Applied Studies (OAS)
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
1 Choke Cherry Road
Rockville, md 20857
Phone: 240-276-1250
Website: http://www.oas.samhsa.gov/