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Harmful Use Of Prescription Drugs Up Over 10 Years

Prescription drugs – for pain, sedation, anxiety, and stimulation clearly have a legitimate medical use. Just ask those people who suffer from acute and chronic pain, insomnia, anxiety, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, and other psychiatric disorders. Unfortunately, these medications also have great potential for misuse, abuse, and dependence. This study examined changes in the prevalence of non-medical prescription drug use and disorders for the periods of 1991/1992 and 2001/2002.

Researchers examined two large national surveys conducted 10 years apart: the 1991-1992 National Longitudinal Alcohol Epidemiologic Survey and the 2001-2002 National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions. Respondents (n=42,862 and n=43,093, respectively) were asked about past-year non-medical prescription drug use and drug-use disorders.

From 1991-1992 to 2001-2002 the prevalence of non-medical use of prescription drugs increased by 53%. Among their findings the researchers noted that misuse decreased with age, was significantly greater among women in the 1991-1992 period but not in the 2001-2002 period, and individuals with some college were less likely to abuse these drugs. In total, the results indicate alarming increases in the prevalence of both prescription drug non-medical use as well as prescription-drug disorders. The study authors recommend urgent action to find better means of balancing legitimate need for prescription drugs against this proven potential for abuse and dependence.

(Blanco, C, Alderson, D, Ogburn, E, Grant, BF, Nunes, EV, Hatzenbuehler, ML, Hasin, DS: Changes in the prevalence of non-medical prescription drug use and drug use disorders in the United States: 1991-1992 and 2001-2002. Drug and Alcohol Dependence 90:252-260, 2007.)

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