The results of the 2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) have been released, and the findings are alarming. The data suggest that in 2015, nearly 92 million adults, or about 40% of the U.S. population, used prescription opioids. Of those, 11.5 million people misused opioids, and nearly 2 million adults suffered from an opioid use disorder. Researchers interviewed nearly 50,000 adults for the survey. Misuse and use disorders were most commonly reported in adults who were uninsured, unemployed, had low income, or exhibited behavioral health problems. Of those who misused opioids, 60% did not have a prescription, and 41% got their prescription drugs from friends or relatives. The researchers argued that such widespread availability of prescription opioids suggests that these drugs are dispensed commonly in amounts not fully consumed by those to whom they are prescribed, leading to diversion. This is especially true for acute pain episodes, which accounts for more than 90% of opioid prescriptions. The authors concluded that “actions should be taken to expand safe, evidence-based pain treatment and decrease excessive prescribing that may leave unused opioids available for potential misuse.” (Ann Intern Med 2017 Aug 1. doi: 10.7326/M17-0865. [Epub ahead of print])
Of those, 11.5 million people misused opioids, and nearly 2 million adults suffered from an opioid use disorder.
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