How People Obtain the Prescription Pain Relievers They Misuse

Summary/Excerpts

This article highlights how people acquire prescription pain medication for nonmedical use and concludes that most are secured at no cost through friends, family, and medical providers. Such information is valuable for prevention efforts and allows for a better understanding of the ways and means individuals come in contact with potentially addictive substances. The article suggests that Americans not share prescription pain medication and dispose of any remaining medicine when the need for the prescription has passed as a way to minimize misuse.

Key Statistics

Among adolescents aged 12 to 17 in 2022, 19.5% (or 4.8 million people) had a past year major depressive episode (MDE).

Illegally made fentanyl (IMF) is sometimes present in products that are sold as heroin or in counterfeit prescription drugs. However, people who use IMF are often not aware they are doing so.

Citation

Lipari, Rachel, and Arthur Hughes. “How People Obtain the Prescription Pain Relievers They Misuse.” Samhsa.gov, 2017, www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/report_2686/ShortReport-2686.html.

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