-
"In 2004, 6.0 million persons were current users of
psychotherapeutic drugs taken nonmedically (2.5 percent). These include
4.4 million who used pain relievers, 1.6 million who used
tranquilizers, 1.2 million who used stimulants, and 0.3 million who
used sedatives. These estimates are all similar to the corresponding
estimates for 2003.
"There were significant increases in the lifetime prevalence of use
from 2003 to 2004 in several categories of pain relievers among those
aged 18 to 25. Specific pain relievers with statistically significant
increases in lifetime use were Vicodin, Lortab, or Lorcet (from 15.0
to 16.5 percent); Percocet, Percodan, or Tylox (from 7.8 to 8.7
percent); hydrocodone products (from 16.3 to 17.4 percent); OxyContin
(from 3.6 to 4.3 percent); and oxycodone products (from 8.9 to 10.1
percent)."
Source:
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration,
Results from the 2004 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: National
Findings (Rockville, MD: US Dept. of Health and Human Services, Office
of Applied Studies, 2005), p. 1.
-
"Lifetime nonmedical pain reliever prevalence among youths aged 12
to 17 increased from 2001 (9.6 percent) to 2002 (11.2 percent),
continuing an increasing trend from 1989 (1.2 percent). Among young
adults aged 18 to 25, the rate increased from 19.4 percent in 2001 to
22.1 percent in 2002. The young adult rate had been 6.8 percent in
1992.
"Lifetime nonmedical use of stimulants increased steadily from 1990 to
2002 for youths aged 12 to 17 (0.7 to 4.3 percent). For young adults
aged 18 to 25, rates declined from 1981 to 1994 (from 10.9 to 5.9
percent), then increased to 10.8 percent in 2002. Rates increased
between 2001 and 2002 for both youths (3.8 to 4.3 percent) and young
adults (10.2 to 10.8 percent)."
Source:
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
(2003). Results from the 2002 National Survey on Drug Use and Health:
National Findings (Office of Applied Studies, NHSDA Series H-22, DHHS
Publication No. SMA 03-3836), Rockville, MD, p. 39.
-
"In 2004, an estimated 2.8 million persons used psychotherapeutics
nonmedically for the first time within the past year. The numbers of
new users of psychotherapeutics in 2004 were 2.4 million for pain
relievers, 1.2 million for tranquilizers, 793,000 for stimulants, and
240,000 for sedatives. These estimates are similar to the corresponding
estimates for 2002 and 2003.
"The average age of first nonmedical use of psychotherapeutics among
recent initiates was 24.7 years. For specific drug classes, the average
ages were 23.3 years for pain relievers, 25.2 years for tranquilizers,
24.1 years for stimulants, and 29.3 years for sedatives.
"In 2004, the number of new nonmedical users of OxyContin was 615,000,
with an average age at first use of 24.5 years. Comparable data on past
year OxyContin initiation are not available for prior years, but
calendar year estimates of OxyContin initiation show a steady increase
in the number of initiates from 1995, the year this drug was first
available, through 2003 (Figure 5.5).
"The number of recent new users of methamphetamine nonmedically was
318,000 in 2004. Between 2002 and 2004, the number of methamphetamine
initiates remained level at around 300,000 per year. The average age of
new users was 18.9 years in 2002, 20.4 years in 2003, and 22.1 years in
2004."
Source:
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration,
Results from the 2004 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: National
Findings (Rockville, MD: US Dept. of Health and Human Services, Office
of Applied Studies, 2005), p. 50.
-
The General Accounting Office reported in 2003 that "DEA officials
told us that it is difficult to obtain reliable data on what controlled
substances are being abused by individuals and diverted from pharmacies
because available drug abuse and diversion tracking systems do not
capture data on a specific brand-name product or indicate where a drug
product is being abused and diverted on a state and local level.
Because of the time lags in reporting information, the data reflect a
delayed response to any emerging drug abuse and diversion problem."
Source:
General Accounting Office, "Prescription Drugs: Oxycontin Abuse
and Diversion and Efforts to Address the Problem," GAO-04-110
(Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, December 2003), p. 32.
-
The Journal of Pain and Symptom Management published a research
letter by scientists from the Pain & Policy Studies Group at the
University of Wisconsin-Madison on drug crime as a source of diverted
pharmaceuticals. The researchers examined data maintained by the US
Drug Enforcement Administration on thefts and other incidents of loss
of controlled substances by DEA registrants including pharmacists,
manufacturers, and distributors. The data was complete for the years
2000-2003 for 22 Eastern states representing 53% of the US population.
According to the researchers:
"A total of 12,894 theft/loss incidents
were reported in these states between 2000 and 2003. Theft/losses were
primarily from pharmacies (89.3%), with smaller portions from medical
practitioners, manufacturers, distributors, and some addiction
treatment programs that reported theft/losses of methadone.
"Over the 4-year period, almost 28 million dosage units of all
controlled substances were diverted. The total number of dosage units
for the six opioids is as follows: 4,434,731 for oxycodone; 1,026,184
for morphine; 454,503 for methadone; 325,921 for hydromorphone; 132,950
for meperidine; 81,371 for fentanyl."
Source:
Joranson, David E. MSSW & Aaron M. Gilson, PhD, Pain & Policy
Studies Group, University of Wisconsin-Madison, "Drug Crime is a Source
of Abuse Pain Medication in the United States," Letters, Journal of
Pain & Symptom Management, Vol. 30, No. 4, Oct. 2005, p. 299.
-
"According to IMS Health data, the annual number of OxyContin
prescriptions for noncancer pain increased nearly tenfold, from about
670,000 in 1997 to about 6.2 million in 2002.27 In contrast, during the
same 6 years, the annual number of OxyContin prescriptions for cancer
pain increased about fourfold, from about 250,000 in 1997 to just over
1 million in 2002. The noncancer prescriptions therefore increased from
about 73 percent of total OxyContin prescriptions to about 85 percent
during that period, while the cancer prescriptions decreased from about
27 percent of the total to about 15 percent. IMS Health data indicated
that prescriptions for other schedule II opioid drugs, such as
Duragesic and morphine products, for noncancer pain also increased
during this period. Duragesic prescriptions for noncancer pain were
about 46 percent of its total prescriptions in 1997, and increased to
about 72 percent of its total in 2002. Morphine products, including,
for example, Purdues MSContin, also experienced an increase in their
noncancer prescriptions during the same period. Their noncancer
prescriptions were about 42 percent of total prescriptions in 1997, and
increased to about 65 percent in 2002."
Source:
General Accounting Office, "Prescription Drugs: Oxycontin Abuse
and Diversion and Efforts to Address the Problem," GAO-04-110
(Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, December 2003), p. 18.
-
"From fiscal year 1996 through fiscal year 2002, DEA initiated 313
investigations involving OxyContin, resulting in 401 arrests. Most of
the investigations and arrests occurred after the initiation of the
action plan. Since the plan was enacted, DEA initiated 257
investigations and made 302 arrests in fiscal years 2001 and 2002.
Among those arrested were several physicians and pharmacists. Fifteen
health care professionals either voluntarily surrendered their
controlled substance registrations or were immediately suspended from
registration by DEA. In addition, DEA reported that $1,077,500 in fines
was assessed and $742,678 in cash was seized by law enforcement
agencies in OxyContin-related cases in 2001 and 2002."
Source:
General Accounting Office, "Prescription Drugs: Oxycontin Abuse
and Diversion and Efforts to Address the Problem," GAO-04-110
(Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, December 2003), p. 37.
-
"At the state level, Medicaid fraud control units have investigated
OxyContin abuse and diversion; however, they do not maintain precise
data on the number of investigations and enforcement actions completed.
Similarly, state medical licensure boards have investigated complaints
about physicians who were suspected of abuse and diversion of
controlled substances, but they could not provide data on the number of
investigations involving OxyContin."
Source:
General Accounting Office, "Prescription Drugs: Oxycontin Abuse
and Diversion and Efforts to Address the Problem," GAO-04-110
(Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, December 2003), p. 6.
-
"There are several factors that may have contributed to the abuse
and diversion of OxyContin. OxyContins formulation as a controlled-
release opioid that is twice as potent as morphine may have made it an
attractive target for abuse and diversion. In addition, the original
labels safety warning advising patients not to crush the tablets
because of the possible rapid release of a potentially toxic amount of
oxycodone may have inadvertently alerted abusers to possible methods
for misuse. Further, the rapid growth in OxyContin sales increased the
drug's availability in the marketplace and may have contributed to
opportunities to obtain the drug illicitly. The history of abuse and
diversion of prescription drugs in some geographic areas, such as those
within the Appalachian region, may have predisposed some states to
problems with OxyContin. However, we could not assess the relationship
between the growth in OxyContin prescriptions or increased availability
with the drug's abuse and diversion because the data on abuse and
diversion are not reliable, comprehensive, or timely."
Source:
General Accounting Office, "Prescription Drugs: Oxycontin Abuse
and Diversion and Efforts to Address the Problem," GAO-04-110
(Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, December 2003), p. 29.
-
"The large amount of OxyContin available in the marketplace may
have increased opportunities for abuse and diversion. Both DEA and
Purdue have stated that an increase in a drug's availability in the
marketplace may be a factor that attracts interest by those who abuse
and divert drugs."
Source:
General Accounting Office, "Prescription Drugs: Oxycontin Abuse
and Diversion and Efforts to Address the Problem," GAO-04-110
(Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, December 2003), p. 30.
-
"According to a 2001 HIDTA [High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area]
report, the Appalachian region, which encompasses parts of Kentucky,
Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, has been severely affected by
prescription drug abuse, particularly pain relievers, including
oxycodone, for many years. Three of the four states -- Kentucky,
Virginia, and West Virginia -- were among the initial states to report
OxyContin abuse and diversion. Historically, oxycodone, manufactured
under brand names such as Percocet, Percodan, and Tylox, was among the
most diverted prescription drugs in Appalachia. According to the
report, OxyContin has become the drug of choice of abusers in several
areas within the region. The report indicates that many areas of the
Appalachian region are rural and poverty-stricken, and the profit
potential resulting from the illicit sale of OxyContin may have
contributed to its diversion and abuse. In some parts of Kentucky, a
20-milligram OxyContin tablet, which can be purchased by legitimate
patients for about $2, can be sold illicitly for as much as $25. The
potential to supplement their incomes can lure legitimate patients into
selling some of their OxyContin to street dealers, according to the
HIDTA report."
Source:
General Accounting Office, "Prescription Drugs: Oxycontin Abuse
and Diversion and Efforts to Address the Problem," GAO-04-110
(Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, December 2003), pp. 31-32.
-
According to a report on prescription drug monitoring programs
in the US, of the 24 state programs listed, 17 allow law enforcement
to use data to support investigations of prescription abuse, and
8 allow law enforcement to use the data to initiate investigations
of prescription abuse.
Source: "Prescription Monitoring Programs: Current Practices and
Consideration of Their Effectiveness," Abt Associates, Presented to
the National Institute of Justice Annual Conference on Criminal
Justice Research & Evaluation, Washington, DC, July 2005.
