Opioid Crisis: Prescription Opioids

• Among those with leftover opioids, over 60% keep them for future use rather than properly disposing of them (source).
• 53% of people (12 and older) who misused pain relievers obtained them from a friend or relative (SAMHSA).
• According to a national study, teens who misused or abused a prescription drug:
  • 42% get them from their parent’s medicine cabinet.
  • 49% get them from a friend.

Prescription opioid misuse often leads to more serious drugs (like heroin and fentanyl).

United States

• According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, millions of Americans misused opioids in 2018.
  • 10.3 million people misused prescription opioids
  • 2 million people had an opioid use disorder
  • 2 million people misused prescription opioids for the first time
• Roughly 21-29% of patients prescribed opioids for chronic pain misuse them, and between 8-12% develop an opioid use disorder. [National Institute on Drug Abuse]

North Dakota

In North Dakota, _________ reported using prescription pain medication without a doctor’s prescription one or more times during their lifetime. [Substance Use in North Dakota: Data Book 2019]

• 4.3% of middle school students
• 14.4% of high school students
• 6.1% of college students