Behavioral Intervention and Disposal of Leftover Opioids: A Randomized Trial

Summary/Excerpts

Results from this study suggest that the prevalence of prescription opioid use among adolescents and young adults in the US is high despite known risks for future opioid and other drug use disorders. Reported prescription opioid misuse is common among adolescents and young adults and often associated with additional substance abuse, underscoring the importance of drug and alcohol screening programs in this population. Prevention and treatment efforts should take into account that greater than half of youths misusing prescription opioids obtain these medications through friends and relatives.

Key Statistics

About 3.8% of adolescents aged 12-17 reported misusing opioids

About 7.8% of young adults aged 18-25 reported misusing opioids

Among those misusing opioids, 55.7% obtained them from friends or relatives

Obtaining opioids free from friends or relatives was the most common source for both adolescents (33.5%) and young adults (41.4%)

Citation

Hudgins JD, Porter JJ, Monuteaux MC, Bourgeois FT. Prescription opioid use and misuse among adolescents and young adults in the United States: A national survey study. PLoS Med. 2019 Nov 5;16(11):e1002922. doi: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1002922. PMID: 31689290; PMCID: PMC6830740.

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