10 things to know about prescription opioid abuse in the United States

Becker’s Spine Review, July 20, 2015

"For years, physicians have been prescribing opioids as a way to combat pain, yet this feeds into our nation's serious, often fatal, opioid abuse problem. The number of prescription opioid abusers is spiking, and healthcare professionals are addressing this problem head-on, to avoid unnecessary casualties.

Here are 10 things to know about opioid abuse:

1. In the United States, approximately 2.1 million people abuse opioids, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. There are 26.4 million people abusing opioids around the world. The number of deaths in the United States due to prescription opioid pain relievers has tripled in the last 20 years, with opioid analgesic poisoning resulting in more deaths each year than heroin or cocaine. The United States alone consumes 99 percent of the world's hydrocodone pills as well as 80 percent of the world's prescription opiates." Read more

For resources to talk with your teen about the dangers of substance abuse, click here.