Which Prescription Pills Are Most Commonly Abused?
Addiction is a widespread problem, affecting people of all ages and backgrounds, but there are widespread differences that can be observed among certain demographics in recent decades. One thing to carefully monitor is prescription pill addiction statistics, which have changed considerably in the 21st Century. A large drive of addiction and overdose deaths in the United States has been the list of opioids from strongest to weakest, and they remain a concern among prescription medications that doctors and medical professionals administer.
Table of contents
» Why Have Prescription Pill Overdose Deaths Slowly Declined in Recent Years?
» How Have Public Health Efforts Affected Prescription Drug Abuse Rates?
» Why Are Overdose Rates Increasing Among Older Adults?
» What Treatment Options Are Available for Prescription Pill Addiction?
» Key Takeaways on Prescription Pill Addiction Statistics
» Resources
Why Have Prescription Pill Overdose Deaths Slowly Declined in Recent Years?
Prescription pill addiction statistics have changed markedly over the past couple of decades—especially in terms of overdose deaths in recent years. Still, prescription drug abuse remains a significant problem. According to the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics:
- 13.8 million, or 4.8 percent of Americans over 12, abuse prescriptions each year.
- 7.6 million, or 55.3 percent of prescription drug abusers, are considered to be addicted.
- 125 million, or 2.6 percent of all pharmacy-filled prescriptions, are opioid medications.
Prescription drug misuse includes many varieties of medications, including painkillers, opioids, stimulants, tranquilizers, benzodiazepines, and sedatives. So, which prescription pills are most commonly abused?
- Painkillers: An estimated 8 million people abuse these drugs each year, adding up to about 2.8 percent of the population.
- Prescription Opioids: 7.6 million annual abusers, or 2.6 percent of the population.
- Stimulants: 3.9 million annual abusers – 1.4 percent of the population.
- Tranquilizers: 3.8 million annual abusers – 1.3 percent of the population.
- Benzodiazepines: 3.4 million annual abusers – 1.2 percent of the population.
- Sedatives: 900,000 annual abusers – 0.3 percent of the population.
The prescription substances that are most abused are all generally classified as psychotherapeutic drugs, meaning they’re intended to help with mental, emotional, or physical health. This classification includes painkillers, stimulants, sedatives, and tranquilizers. About 58 percent of all prescription drug abusers use pain relievers, with people giving the most common reason for misuse as relieving physical pain.
A shocking 86 percent of prescription abusers got the pain relievers from friends, families, or medical providers, with just 7.6 percent of abused prescription pain relievers being purchased on the black market. About 43 percent of people who abuse prescription pain relievers were misusing their own prescriptions.
Still, it needs to be stated that prescription pill overdose deaths have slowly declined in recent years—declining 12 percent in deaths involving prescription opioids between 2022 and 2023, for example. Several factors are behind this decline, including:
- Naloxone: This opioid overdose-reversal medication is now widely available, saving many lives each year.
- More Addiction Treatment: Improved addiction treatment services across the country and the rise of improved medications for opioid addiction, including buprenorphine and methadone, have helped.
- Drug Supply Changes: The rise of overdose deaths due to illegal drugs, especially illicit fentanyl, has come at the same time as a drop in prescription opioid deaths.
- Fewer Young Users: Young adults and teenagers have a lower rate of illicit drug use, which has improved the overdose death count because new users tend to be at a much higher risk of fatal overdoses.
How Have Public Health Efforts Affected Prescription Drug Abuse Rates?
If you’re wondering about changes to prescription pill addiction statistics, much of this has come as a result of public health interventions to get the word out about the dangers and to help more people who are struggling recognize the need for help after going through the stages of admitting addiction.
One of the biggest drivers in this is the widespread reduction of opioid prescriptions, changing the game after opioids were overly prescribed in the late 1990s and early 2000s, which prompted the rise of the first wave of the opioid epidemic. In 2014, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration reclassified hydrocodone medications, which caused a significant drop in their use, while doctors still avoided switching to other opioids.
In addition, public education campaigns, enhanced medical provider training, and the rise of Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs in all 50 states have helped officials keep a better eye on the problem and make adjustments to policies to prevent more addiction and save more lives.
Why Are Overdose Rates Increasing Among Older Adults?
While the rate of prescription pill addiction is slowly falling finally, drug overdose deaths have also started to improve for the first time in many years. The age-adjusted drug overdose death rate in the United States spiked considerably from 2003 (8.9 deaths per 100,000 people) to 2022 (32.6 deaths per 2022). That number finally decreased from 2022 to 2023, dropping slightly to 31.3 deaths per 100,000 people.
However, the rate of drug overdose deaths was noted as rising significantly in terms of percentage between 2022 and 2023 in one demographic: Adults 65 and older. That death rate increased 11.4 percent, a stark contrast to the 10.6 percent drop among people ages 15 to 24. Even the overdose death rate among people 55 to 64 increased 2.3 percent from 2022 to 2023.
Let’s look at that in more depth:
- In 2022, there were 1,060 deaths among people aged 65 and older, adding up to a death rate of 3 deaths per 100,000 people.
- That figure jumped to 12 deaths per 100,000 people 65 and older – a total of 6,702 deaths – in 2021.
- The highest death rates were noted among non-Hispanic African-American people – 30.9 deaths per 100,000.
- A shocking 1 in 370 deaths of people 65 and older in 2021 was caused by an overdose.
But what’s behind this increase in overdose deaths among older Americans? Officials say it’s a combination of the rise of fentanyl-related deaths in older adults, especially overdoses that involve cocaine, methamphetamine, or other stimulants that are laced with fentanyl. The number of fentanyl-related deaths among adults 65 and older jumped 1,470 percent between 2015 and 2023.
In addition, older adults are uniquely vulnerable to drug overdoses due to reduced organ function, frequently being prescribed multiple medications, an aging population driven by Baby Boomers, and ineffective screening of older adults for the problems of addiction and drug misuse.
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What Treatment Options Are Available for Prescription Pill Addiction?
While prescription medication addiction remains a significant problem for many, it’s important to know that help is available. Florida prescription drug addiction treatment centers offer a comprehensive range of addiction treatment, including medical detox, inpatient drug rehab, outpatient addiction treatment services, and aftercare programs that can all help someone go from struggles with addiction to a better future in long-lasting recovery.
In addition to rehab treatments like individual and group therapy, patients can access medication-assisted treatment in some instances to help them overcome addiction to prescription drugs like opioids and successfully beat the disease.
Key Takeaways on Prescription Pill Addiction Statistics
- Prescription pill addiction statistics have slightly improved in recent years, but prescription medication misuse remains a considerable problem.
- The most commonly abused prescription pills include painkillers, opioids, benzodiazepines, stimulants, tranquilizers, and sedatives.
- An estimated 13.8 million Americans misuse prescriptions each year.
- While overdose deaths as a whole declined between 2022 and 2023, they increased significantly among adults 55 to 64 and those 65 and older.
- Prescription drug addiction treatment can help people achieve long-lasting recovery and avoid the dangers of drug abuse.
If you or someone you love is struggling with prescription pill misuse, you’re not alone – and WhiteSands Treatment can help. Our comprehensive drug rehab programs have helped many people break the chains of addiction and learn how to live a better life in long-lasting recovery. Call us at 877-855-3470 today to learn how to get started.
Resources
- National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics – Prescription Drug Abuse Statistics
- JAMA Psychiatry – Twenty-Year Trends in Drug Overdose Fatalities Among Older Adults in the U.S.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – Drug Overdose Deaths in the United States, 2003-2023
If you or a loved one needs help with abuse and/or treatment, please call the WhiteSands Treatment at (877) 855-3470. Our addiction specialists can assess your recovery needs and help you get the addiction treatment that provides the best chance for your long-term recovery.
About the Author
Jackie has been involved in the substance abuse and addiction treatment sector for over five years and this is something that she is truly eager about. She has a passion for writing and continuously works to create informative pieces that not only educate and inform the public about the disease of addiction but also provide solutions for those who struggle with drug and alcohol abuse.
