Prescription drug abuse grows in U.S.

"Prescription drug abuse grows in U.S.", Reuters, September 6, 2007,
Link: http://www.reuters.com/article/domes...26318720070906

More young U.S. adults are abusing prescription medications,
particularly painkillers, according to the government's annual report
on substance abuse released on Thursday.

Overall, in 2006, 22.6 million people -- 9.2 percent of Americans ages
12 and up -- either abused or were addicted to drugs or alcohol in the
prior year, according to estimates in the report from the U.S.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

That is up slightly from an estimated 22.2 million people, or 9.1
percent of the population, in last year's report.

The 2006 report found that non-medical use of prescription drugs,
mostly pain relievers, among young adults increased from 5.4 percent
in 2002 to 6.4 percent in 2006.

"The abuse of prescription drugs for non-medical reasons is of
increasing concern," agency chief Terry Cline said in a statement.

"These are potent drugs that can have serious and life-threatening
consequences if misused. Parents in particular need to be aware of
this problem and take steps to prevent these medications from falling
into the wrong hands," Cline added.

The agency said 3.2 million Americans were dependent on or abused both
alcohol and illicit drugs and 3.8 million were dependent on or abused
illicit drugs but not alcohol.

Another 15.6 million were dependent on or abused alcohol but not
illicit drugs, the agency added.

The report showed that fewer adolescents ages 12 to 17 said they had
used illicit drugs in the prior month -- the rate dropped from 11.6
percent in 2002 to 9.9 percent in 2005 and 9.8 percent in 2006.

Current marijuana use among those ages 12 to 17 dropped from 8.2
percent in 2002 to 6.7 percent in 2006, with the decline seen
particularly among boys, according to the report.

The agency also found that the level of under-age drinking among those
ages 12 to 20 remained unchanged since 2002, at 28.3 percent in 2006.
The legal age for drinking alcohol in the United States is generally
21.

The findings were based on responses given by about 67,500 people to a
government survey.