According to a new national survey of 67,500 people, misuse of prescription painkillers rose by 12% last year, a problem the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has drawn attention to.
"There is an increase in the misuse of prescription drugs for non-medical reasons, and these drugs are dangerous and life-threatening," said Dr Cline. "We need to alert people, especially parents, to be careful with them and to take steps to keep these drugs out of the wrong hands."
The survey also covered illegal drugs. Among adults aged 55 to 59, illicit drug use more than doubled (to 1.4% in 2007). Drug use among teenagers had risen for a long time, but this year the researchers found a fall in illegal drugs, alcohol and tobacco among young people aged 12 to 17:
- Illicit drug use in the past month: 11.6% in 2002, 9.5% in 2007
- Current cannabis use: 8.2% → 6.7%
- Alcohol use: 17.6% → 15.9%
- Cigarette use: 13.0% → 9.8%
Cocaine use also fell by 23% among 18- to 25-year-olds, and methamphetamine use fell by a third in the same group.
The report stressed the importance of treating drug misuse and of encouraging health services to identify people at risk early. Street markets for these drugs have been curbed, but prescription drugs can also cause great harm, so people must be warned about the dangers of misusing them and their illegal diversion reduced. The survey showed that about 24.3 million American adults had serious psychological distress.
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