Prescription Drug Abuse Stats

How many people misuse prescription drugs?

Among people aged 12 or older in 2021:

  • 5.1% (or about 14.3 million people) reported misusing any prescription psychotherapeutic drug in the past 12 months (2021 DT 1.1).
  • 1.3% (or about 3.7 million people) reported misusing prescription stimulants in the past 12 months (2021 DT 1.1).
  • 1.7% (or about 4.9 million people) reported misusing prescription tranquilizers or sedatives in the past 12 months (2021 DT 1.1).
  • 1.4% (or about 3.9 million people) reported misusing benzodiazepines in the past 12 months (2021 DT 1.1).
  • 3.1% (or about 8.7 million people) reported misusing prescription pain relievers in the past 12 months (2021 DT 1.1).

Source: 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health*

How many young students misuse prescription drugs?

Among young people in 2022:

  • An estimated 5% of 12th graders reported misusing any prescription drug in the past 12 months.
  • An estimated 3.2% of 8th graders, 3.1% of 10th graders, and 2.9% of 12th graders reported misusing amphetamines in the past 12 months.
  • An estimated 0.7% of 8th graders, 0.7% of 10th graders, and 1.1% of 12th graders reported misusing Ritalin in the past 12 months.
  • An estimated 2.3% of 8th graders, 2.9% of 10th graders, and 3.4% of 12th graders reported misusing Adderall in the past 12 months.
  • An estimated 2% of 12th graders reported misusing sedatives (barbiturates) in the past 12 months.
  • An estimated 1.4% of 8th graders, 1.5% of 10th graders, and 1.5% of 12th graders reported misusing tranquilizers in the past 12 months.
  • An estimated 1.7% of 12th graders reported misusing narcotics other than heroin in the past 12 months.
  • An estimated 0.7% of 8th graders, 0.9% of 10th graders, and 1.9% of 12th graders reported misusing OxyContin in the past 12 months.
  • An estimated 0.7% of 8th graders, 1% of 10th graders, and 1.3% of 12th graders reported misusing Vicodin in the past 12 months.

Source: 2022 Monitoring the Future Survey

How many people have a prescription stimulant use disorder

  • Among people aged 12 or older in 2021, an estimated 0.5% (or about 1.5 million people) had a prescription stimulant use disorder in the past 12 months (2021 DT 5.1).
    Source: 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health*

How many people have a prescription tranquilizer or sedative use disorder?

  • Among people aged 12 or older in 2021, an estimated 0.8% (or about 2.2 million people) had a prescription tranquilizer or sedative use disorder in the past 12 months (2021 DT 5.1).
    Source: 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health*

How many people have a prescription opioid use disorder?

  • Among people aged 12 or older in 2021, an estimated 1.8% (or about 5.0 million people) had a prescription opioid use disorder in the past 12 months (2021 DT 5.1).
    Source: 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health*

How many people die from overdoses involving prescription opioids?

How many people die from overdoses involving benzodiazepines?

How many people die from overdoses involving antidepressants?