Opioid Analgesic Abuse in the United States

SPECIAL ARTICLE

Opioid Analgesic Abuse in the United States

January 15, 2015 | R.C. Dart and Others

The authors analyzed data from five national surveillance programs and report that rates of abuse and diversion of opioid medications increased during 2002–2010 and flattened or decreased during 2011–2013. These findings suggest progress in reducing abuse of opioid analgesics.

The use of prescription opioid medications has increased greatly in the United States during the past two decades; in 2010, there were 16,651 opioid-related deaths. In response, hundreds of federal, state, and local interventions have been implemented. We describe trends in the diversion and abuse of prescription opioid analgesics using data through 2013.

RESULTS

Prescriptions for opioid analgesics increased substantially from 2002 through 2010 in the United States but then decreased slightly from 2011 through 2013. In general, RADARS System programs reported large increases in the rates of opioid diversion and abuse from 2002 to 2010, but then the rates flattened or decreased from 2011 through 2013. The rate of opioid-related deaths rose and fell in a similar pattern. Reported nonmedical use did not change significantly among college students.

CONCLUSIONS

Postmarketing surveillance indicates that the diversion and abuse of prescription opioid medications increased between 2002 and 2010 and plateaued or decreased between 2011 and 2013. These findings suggest that the United States may be making progress in controlling the abuse of opioid analgesics. (Funded by the Denver Health and Hospital Authority.)

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