Statistics

• An estimated 1.6 million Americans began using prescription drugs nonmedically in 1998 (the last year for which these data are available.)
• Approximately 2% of the U.S. population over the age of 12 use prescription drugs nonmedically.
• Approximately 9% of high school students surveyed have taken barbiturates nonmedically at least once in their lives.
• Approximately 9% of high school students surveyed have taken benzodiazepines nonmedically at least once in their lives.
• Approximately 10% of high school students surveyed have taken opioid medications nonmedically at least once in their lives.
• The barbiturate phenobarbital led to 1,493 visits to emergency departments last year, despite fairly low prescription numbers.
• A variety of benzodiazepines led to 44,796 visits to emergency departments last year.
• The opioids codeine, oxycodone, and hydrocodone led to 24,789 visits to emergency departments last year.
• Barbiturates caused 396 deaths last year, some due to the drug alone, and some in connection with other drugs, suicide, accidents, or mental illness.
• Benzodiazepines caused 1,784 deaths last year, some due to the drug alone, and some in connection with other drugs, suicide, accidents, or mental illness.
• Opioids caused 2,285 deaths last year, some due to the drug alone, and some in connection with other drugs, suicide, accidents, or mental illness.