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 Researchers call the increase in morbidity and mortality due to prescription opioid abuse an "epidemic."

In 2013, the 16,200 deaths resulting from prescription opioid disorders exceeded the 14,774 deaths from use of all illicit drugs combined.

The team, led by Dr. Beth Han, PhD, of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration in Rockville, MD, set out to assess national trends in and characteristics of nonmedical prescription opioid use and use disorders, and the national trend in related mortality.

To investigate prevalence and related risk factors, they looked at data from 472,200 participants in the 2003-2013 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH).

Nonmedical use of prescription opioids was defined as "use without a prescription or [...] with a prescription, simply for the experience or feeling caused by opioids."  
Increase in disorders seen

Disorders were classed as dependence on or abuse of: alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, hallucinogens, heroin, inhalants, or nonmedical use of prescription pain relievers, sedatives or stimulants.

The researchers found increased trends in dependence, morbidity and mortality rates:

    From 2003-2013, prescription opioid dependence rose from 0.4% to 0.6% in people aged over 12
    Associated Emergency Department visits rose from 82.5 to 184.1 per 100,000 from 2004-2011
    Prescription opioid related-deaths rose from 1.4 to 5.1 per 100,000 from 1999-2013
    Drug overdose death rates involving prescription opioids increased from 4.5 per 100,000 in 2003 to 7.8 per 100,000 in 2013.

Medications were bought, stolen or given by friends or relatives, prescribed by physicians, or bought from drug dealers or strangers.
Who is affected?

Disorders were more common among non-Hispanic white users, although the most frequent users of prescription opioids were non-Hispanic black people.

Disorders were more common among people without a high school diploma, those who were disabled for work, people with major depressive episodes, those without health insurance and those with Medicaid coverage rather than private health insurance.

People with dependences on alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, hallucinogens, heroin, stimulants, sedatives and nicotine were also more prone to disorders - as were those who stole or bought drugs, compared with those who received them for free from friends or relatives.
A public health concern

The epidemic in increased high-intensity prescription opioid use represents a major public health concern.


Previous studies have shown a strong relationship between inappropriate opioid prescribing and negative health outcomes; the current trend has occurred at a time when the quantities of opioids prescribed has increased.

From 1999-2002, 57.6% of opioid users took an opioid stronger than morphine or morphine-equivalent; by 2011-12, this figure had increased to 80%.

Use of higher amounts of prescription opioids is a significant risk factor for overdose death.

The team recommends identifying at-risk users to prevent them from developing disorders. They also suggest identifying patterns of inappropriate receipt of prescription opioids. Patients with opioid-related disorders and associated substance use disorders - plus nicotine dependence and depression - should be screened for treatment.