Addiction Medicine: Closing the Gap between Science and Practice

2.1

(5.4 M)

2.3

(0.6 M)

4.3

(1.5 M)

1.7

(3.4 M)

Total 12 to 17 18 to 25 26+

P E R C E N T

* In the past 30 days.

Source: CASA Columbia analysis of The National Survey on

Drug Use and Health(NSDUH), 2010.

Figure 3.I

Current* Risky Use of

Controlled Prescription Drugs

Among Individuals Ages 12+, 2010

Percent (Number in Millions)

With regard to the risky use of marijuana
specifically, blacks are more likely to be risky
users (6.3 percent, 1.9 million), than whites (5.7
percent, 9.8 million), Hispanics (4.1 percent, 1.5
million) or persons of other races/ethnicities (3.3
percent, 0.6 million).^39

The rate of risky use of illicit drugs has
increased slightly between 2002 (5.0 percent,
11.9 million) and 2010 (5.8 percent, 14.6
million) driven primarily by an increase in the
rate of risky use of marijuana (4.6 percent, 10.7
million in 2002 and 5.6 percent, 14.2 million in
2010).^40

Risky Use of Controlled Prescription Drugs ...............................................................

In 2010, 2.1 percent of the U.S. population ages
12 and older (5.4 million) reported risky use* of
controlled† prescription drugs, with opioids
(pain relievers) the most frequently misused:^41

 Opioids: 1.6 percent (3.9 million);

 Tranquilizers: 0.6 percent (1.5 million); and

 Stimulants: 0.3 percent (0.7 million).‡ 42

Of those who are risky users§ of controlled
prescription drugs, 65.8 percent (3.6 million)
also are risky users of tobacco, alcohol or illicit
drugs. While not having addiction involving
controlled prescription drugs, 43.6 percent of
risky users of these drugs have addiction
involving nicotine, alcohol and/or an illicit
drug.^43

• Misused a controlled prescription drug in the past

30 days but do not have addiction involving
prescription drugs.
† Controlled by the U.S. Drug Enforcement

Administration because of their potential for misuse.
‡ Data on the risky use of sedatives cannot be

reported separately due to small sample size. These
percentages do not add up to the total of 2.1 percent
because of multiple substance use.
§ Who do not have addiction involving prescription

drugs.

Risky use of controlled prescription drugs is

highest among 18- to 25-year olds; more 12- to

17-year olds report risky use of these drugs than

those ages 26 and older.^44 (Figure 3.I)

This pattern is the same for the risky use of

opioids specifically: 2.0 percent of 12- to 17-

year olds, 3.2 percent of 18- to 25-year olds and

1.2 percent of individuals ages 26 and older are

risky users of opioids.** 45

Men are slightly likelier to be risky users of

controlled prescription drugs (2.3 percent, 2.8

million) than women (2.0 percent, 2.6 million).

With regard to opioids, men also are more likely

to be risky users (1.8 percent, 2.2 million) than

women (1.3 percent, 1.7 million).^46

** Data on the risky use of other classes of controlled

prescription drugs cannot be reported separately by

age, gender or race/ethnicity due to small sample

size.