Prescription Drug Abuse Statistics

Prescription drug abuse is insidious and widely misunderstood. Young adults are the heaviest users, but older and elderly patients are at heightened risk of misuse and addiction.

Key Findings

Related reports include Drug Abuse Statistics | Alcohol Abuse Statistics | Average Cost of Drug Rehab | Drug Overdose Death Statistics | Teenage Drug Use Statistics | Fentanyl Abuse Statistics | Marijuana Addiction Statistics | Opioid Crisis Statistics | Prescription Drug Abuse Statistics

*Values may reflect overlapping misuse, as some people report misusing more than one type of prescription drug.

Prescription Abuse Statistics

35.8% of American adults used a prescription drug – legally or not – within the past 30 days. Healthcare specialists generally agree that a high rate of use and availability drives reported rates of prescription drug abuse, addiction, and ultimately, overdose.

• 13.8 million people misuse prescriptions in a year.
• In the past year, about 1.5 million people misused prescription pain relievers for the first time, making up 19.0% of all annual misusers.
• First time use is also common with other prescription drugs, as 15.9% of stimulant misusers, 18.4% of tranquilizer misusers, and 22.3% of sedative misusers are new to misuse in the last year.
• Prescription drug abusers constitute 4.8% of Americans over the age of 12.
• Prescription abuse has declined 4.4% from 2023, when 14.4 million people misused prescriptions.
• Fewer than 1-in-10 people misuse prescription pain relievers with the goal to get high.
• 7.6 million people, or 55.3% of those who misuse prescriptions, are definitively addicted to the prescription drugs they misuse.
• Prescription drugs are the second most commonly misused illicit substance, after marijuana, used by 22.3% of the population, and ahead of cocaine, used by 1.5%
• Prescriptions are the fourth most abused substance after alcohol, used by 62.0% of the population, and tobacco products, used by 27.2%.

Psychotherapeutic Abuse

The types of prescriptions people abuse most are classified as psychotherapeutic drugs. These are drugs that may be prescribed to aid mental, emotional, and/or physical health.

• Psychotherapeutic drugs are generally categorized as painkillers, stimulants, sedatives, and tranquilizers.
• 58.0% of prescription drug abusers use pain relievers.
• The most common reason people give for prescription drug abuse is to relieve physical pain.
• 86.0% of prescription abusers receive the pain relievers from a friend, relative, or healthcare provider.
• 42.5% of prescription pain reliever abusers misuse their own prescriptions.
• 7.6% of abused prescription pain relievers are from black market purchases.

Painkiller Abuse Statistics

Pain relievers, or painkillers, are drugs designed to diminish or eliminate pain. Opioids fall under this umbrella term, including oxycodone, morphine, and fentanyl.

• 8.0 million people over 12 misuse painkillers, 19.0% for the first time, making it the most-abused type of prescription drug.
• Among opioid users, 95.3% have Substance Use Disorder (SUD) and are addicted to painkillers.
• 58.0% of prescription drug abusers misuse painkillers; that’s 2.8% of people over 12.
• 70.1% of painkiller abusers report using the drug to relieve physical pain.
• Just 9.1% of painkiller users misuse the drug to feel good or get high; this is a 12.3% annual increase.
• Other reported reasons for misuse are to relieve tension (7.5%), help with sleep (3.0%), help with feelings or emotions (2.3%),  and to experiment or “see what it’s like” (2.1%).
• 57.5% of painkiller users struggle with SUD.
• Side effects of painkiller abuse include dizziness, depression, and increased risk of heart disease, slowed breathing, hypoxia (low levels of oxygen), coma, and death.

Opioid Abuse Statistics

Opioids are the most abused drug type, with addiction and overdose rates climbing annually.

• 7.6 million, or 94.6% of people who abuse prescription painkillers, abuse prescription opioids.
• 7.2 million, or 92.9% of opioid abusers, misuse prescription opioids only.
• 331,000, or 4.2% of opioid abusers, misuse prescription opioids and heroin.
• 59.5% of heroin users also use prescription opioids.
• Opioid abuse has declined 8.5% since 2023.
• Opioid prescriptions increased 158.5% from 1992 to 2012.
• Pharmacies filled 210 million more opioid prescriptions than stimulant prescriptions in 2012.
• One of the greatest dangers of opioid use is accidental ingestion of fentanyl.

Signs and Symptoms of Opioid Abuse:

• Drowsiness
• Weight Loss
• Isolation
• Flu symptoms
• Increased heavy or risky use
• Stealing or financial issues

Signs and Symptoms of Opioid Overdose

• Pale, sweaty skin
• Blue lips or fingernails
• Trouble breathing
• Difficulty speaking
• Unconsciousness

Stimulant Abuse Statistics

Some of the most popular prescription stimulants are ADHD medications, such as Adderall and Ritalin.

• 3.9 million people over 12 misused prescription stimulants within the last 12 months, 15.9% for the first time.
• 69.8% of stimulant abusers are aged 26 or older, representing 1.2% of this age group.
• 25.0% of stimulant users are 18 to 25 years old, representing 2.8% of this age group.
• 5.2% of users are 12- to 17-year-olds, representing 1.7% of that age group.
• Stimulant abuse is down 30.0% since 2015.
• Stimulants include amphetamine, methylphenidate, anorectic (weight-loss) stimulants, and Provigil®, among others.
• 7.4% of stimulant abusers report using the drug to help with academic studies.
• 64.1% of abusers report using stimulants to stay alert or help them concentrate
• 13.5% of stimulant abusers report using the drug to get high, while 5.2% use them with the goal of losing weight.
• Other reported reasons for use include experimentation (5.6%) or to increase/decrease the effects of another drug (1.0%).
• 47.3% of stimulant abusers struggle with Substance Use Disorder (SUD).
• Long-term effects of stimulant abuse include damage to liver, kidneys, and lungs.
• Physical side effects of stimulant abuse also include heart attack, stroke, increased blood pressure, an increased risk of heart disease, arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat), nausea, intense itching, dental problems, and death.

Sedative and Tranquilizer Abuse

Sedatives and tranquilizers are similar drug types, promoting sleep and calm respectively. Some drugs are classified as both. Tranquilizers are more likely to be abused for the purpose of getting high.

• 4.6 million people over the age of 12 abused sedatives and/or tranquilizers in the past 12 months.
• 35.6% of tranquilizer abusers report using the drug to relieve tension.
• 24.3% of users report taking tranquilizers as sleep aids, while 19.3% use tranquilizers to cope with emotions.
• 2.1% of tranquilizer users do so experimentally.
• 69.0% of sedative abusers report using the drug as a sleep aid.
• 15.5% of users report taking a sedative to relieve tension.
• Other reported reasons for sedative misuse are emotional coping (4.8%), intoxication (4.7%), and experimentation (0.2%).
• 39.1% of tranquilizer users and 88.3% of sedative users struggle with Substance Use Disorder (SUD).
• Side effects of sedative and/or tranquilizer abuse include liver failure, depression, amnesia, vision reduction or loss, abnormal blood pressure, seizures, slowed breathing (apnea), coma, and death.

Prescription Abuse Demographics

People of all ages, races, and socioeconomic backgrounds misuse prescription painkillers.

• Adult women are 10.1% more likely than adult men to use prescription opioids.
• Adult men are are 20.0% more likely to misuse prescription opioids than adult women.
• Women are more likely than men to use stimulants to lose weight.
• College initiates to stimulants are more likely to abuse them as study aids.
• Caucasian and Multiracial Americans are most likely to abuse stimulants.
• Native Americans and Alaska Natives are least likely to abuse stimulants, undercutting Black American usage rates by 16.7%.
• Students who were prescribed opioids before 12th grade have a 33% higher risk of misusing opioids after high school.

Prescription Abuse by Age

Prescription drug abuse is most common among 18- to 25-year-olds. Studies suggest that senior and elderly medicated patients may face a higher risk of prescription opioid addiction and overdose due to the number and variety of drugs they take for health reasons.

• 5.8% of adults aged 18 to 25 abuse prescription drugs annually.
• 88.6% of patients aged 65 and older use at least one prescription medication on a daily basis.
• From 2015-2016, 69.0% of adults aged 40 to 79 years used a prescription within the past 30 days; 22.4% used 5 or more prescriptions.
• During the same period, 34.5% of adults aged 60 to 79 years took more than five medications or supplements each day.
• Among 12- to 17-year-olds, 2.5% abuse prescriptions annually.
• 7.1% of high school seniors have abused prescription drugs in their lifetime.
• The stimulant amphetamine/dextroamphetamine (Adderall) is the favorite prescription drug among high school seniors with 2.5% reporting use.
• Teens most often get prescription amphetamines from their own past prescriptions (37.4%) or from friends and family who give them the medication for free (31.5%).
• Teens most often obtain prescription opioids from their own past previous prescriptions (32.3%) or as gifts from friends or family (27.9%).

Signs of Prescription Abuse

A certain set of characteristics help friends, family, doctors, co-workers, etc. of a potential problem with prescription drug abuse.

• Stealing, forging, or selling prescriptions is an indication someone might be abusing drugs. Some of the stash may be for their personal use while sales income helps fund more prescriptions.
• Taking doses beyond the recommended amount in quantity or frequency is a sign that someone has developed a tolerance to the drug; this is a definitive characteristic of addiction.
• Mood swings, hostility, unusual sleeping habits, and poor decision-making are all signs that someone may be abusing prescription drugs. Sedatives and stimulants both have powerful effects on energy and sleep.
• Doctor shopping or seeing an excessive number of medical professionals may be signs of prescription drug abuse. Addicts usually request early refills or “lose” prescriptions until a doctor grows suspicious and stops writing them.

Prescription Abuse Prevention

It is statistically likely that you or someone you know has abused a prescription drug within the last 12 months.

• Always follow usage instructions. Never use a prescription in a way other than as directed by your doctor.
• Don’t order prescriptions online unless it is with a known reputable pharmacist. Many cases of accidental overdose can be traced to websites advertising as pharmacies that fill prescriptions at a very discounted rate. Many of these drugs are counterfeit and contain deadly doses of a substance unknown to the user.
• Never sell or give away prescription drugs. Sharing prescriptions is dangerous for many reasons, among them enabling drug abuse.
• Always properly dispose of leftover prescriptions. Many pharmacies offer safe destruction and disposal services for prescription drugs.
• Encourage treatment without judgement or shame. By the time they realize they need treatment, most drug addicts have already experienced judgement and shame. Their final hurdle is fear of failure, so focusing on progress and success is crucial. Everyone needs some help to overcome addiction.

Historical Context

Humans have abused substances for thousands of years. Psychotherapeutic drugs were unknown until the 1950s.

• Valium® (diazepam) was one of the earliest psychotherapeutic brands available; it has remained one of the most prescribed medications worldwide since its market launch in 1963.
• Prescription drug abuse generally was not part of national drug abuse and addiction studies until the 21^st century, when prescription opioid abuse became an evolving problem.
• From 2002 to 2013, about 24 million Americans aged 12 and older abused prescription pain relievers for the first time.
• In 2015, 2.1 million Americans tried prescription pain relievers for the first time.
• In 2015, the International Narcotics Control Board reported that Americans were responsible for 99.7% of the world’s hydrocodone consumption.
• While prescription drug abuse amongst Americans aged 12 and older has increased by 92% over the past decade, many psychotherapeutic drug classes, such as tranquilizers, have been diminishing in recent years in both use and abuse.
• Since 2004, initiation levels of pain reliever abuse has decreased by 37.2%.
• In 2017, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services declared opioid abuse and addiction a national public health emergency.

Sources

1. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), National Survey of Drug Use and Health Releases
2. National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), Drug Availability
3. Yale, Opioids and Cardiovascular Disease
4. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Prescription Opioids
5. National Library of Medicine, Opioid Prescribing
6. Drug Enforcement Administration, Stimulant Prescription Trends
7. John Hopkins Medicine, Opioid Use Disorder
8. Cleveland Clinic, Sedative
9. Monitoring The Future, Drug Trends
10. Mayo Clinic, Prescription Drug Abuse
11. Congress.gov, The Opioid Crisis in the United States
12. International Narcotics Control Board, Narcotic Drugs
13. Statista, Annual Prescriptions
14. Ohio State University, College Prescription Drug Study 
15. Department of Labor, Opioid Risk Factors
16. American Addiction Centers, Atvian
17. American Medical Association, Opioid Prescription Trends