Addiction Medicine: Closing the Gap between Science and Practice

2.3

(3.9 M) 1.7

(0.5 M)

2.1

(0.8 M)

1.3

(0.2 M)

White Black Hispanic Other

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.J

Current* Risky Use of

Controlled Prescription Drugs

Among Individuals Ages 12+ by Race/Ethnicity,

2010

Percent (Number in Millions)

Whites are more likely to be risky users of

controlled prescription drugs than persons of

other races/ethnicities.^47 (Figure 3.J)

However, with regard to the specific case of

opioids, Hispanics are slightly likelier than

whites (1.7 percent, 0.6 million vs. 1.6 percent,

2.8 million)* to misuse opioids.^48

The rate of risky use of controlled prescription

drugs has remained relatively stable between

2002 (2.2 percent, 5.2 million) and 2010 (2.1

percent, 5.4 million); the rate of risky use of

opioids also has remained stable between 2002

(1.5 percent, 3.6 million) and 2010 (1.6 percent,

3.9 million).^49

* Data on risky opioid use among blacks (1.3 percent)

and persons of other races/ethnicities (1.0 percent)

cannot be reported as statistically significant due to

small sample sizes.

Addiction†

In 2010, a total of 15.9 percent of the U.S.

population ages 12 and older (40.3 million

people) met clinical diagnostic criteria for

addiction.‡ 50

Addiction involving nicotine and alcohol are the

most prevalent manifestations of addiction,

followed by addiction involving illicit drugs and

controlled prescription drugs.^51 (Table 3.4)

† The term “addiction” is used synonymously in this

report with the NDSS criteria for past 30 day nicotine

dependence, and the DSM-IV clinical diagnostic

criteria for past year alcohol and/or other drug abuse

and dependence (excluding nicotine) in accordance

with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental

Disorders (DSM-IV). (The DSM refers to substance

abuse and substance dependence collectively as

substance use disorders. The diagnostic criteria for

nicotine dependence in the NDSS parallel those of

the DSM-IV). These are the criteria used by the

NSDUH to classify respondents as having a

substance use disorder. This definition is consistent

with the current move to combine abuse and

dependence into an overarching diagnosis of

addiction in the upcoming DSM-V. Available data

allow us to include in our prevalence estimates only

those who meet behavioral criteria in accordance

with the current diagnostic standards, meaning that

their disease is not effectively managed or has not

reached the point of behavioral symptoms.

Individuals who have the disease of addiction but do

not meet diagnostic criteria for past month (nicotine)

or past year (alcohol or other drug) addiction are not

included.

‡ This estimate excludes the institutionalized

population, for which rates of addiction are higher.