In February of this year, the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy published a report on the nationwide painkiller epidemic. The report cites some alarming opiate addiction statistics, such as:
- Overdoses from opiate painkillers have grown by 21% since 2006.
- The number of opiate overdose deaths is over twice as much as heroin and cocaine combined.
- 68% of people who use opiates are introduced to them by family or friend (rather than a doctor or drug dealer).
These are just cold hard statistics. However, behind every number are addicts — real people who’ve had their own experiences with addiction to opiates. In order to get the full story, we need to look behind the statistics and toward the opiate addiction facts.
Opiate Addiction Statistics
This is how “recent initiates” to opiate painkillers first obtained their drugs:
- 9% bought them illegally
- 17% were prescribed them
- 68% got them from a friend or family member
This is how “occasional users” of opiate painkillers obtained their drugs:
- 13% bought them illegally
- 17% were prescribed them
- 66% got them from a friend or family member
This is how “frequent/chronic users” of opiate painkillers obtained their drugs:
- 28% bought them illegally
- 26% were prescribed them
- 41% got them from a friend or family member
Opiate Addiction Facts
Now, let’s translate these opiate addiction statistics into an actual story. What are the facts about opiate addiction?
The first thing to notice is that not many people get introduced to painkillers by drug dealers or doctors. Rather, they obtain them from people they know. Specifically, they obtain them “for free or without permission”. In other words, about 68% are given painkillers or they steal them.
Many of us mistakenly believe that addiction to opiates results from doctors over-prescribing pills. Or, that it is the result of illegal drug-dealing. However, the facts behind these numbers tell us a very different story. Of course many people buy drugs illegally or go “doctor-shopping”. But the vast majority of addicts get started without ever having to leave their home. It’s only until they’ve become full-blown addicts (or “chronic users”) that they turn to drug dealers and pharmacies.
What This Means for the Future of Opiate Addiction?
As far as politics and law enforcement go, New formulas of painkillers are being released to prevent crushing, snorting and injecting. Most states have put Prescription Drug Monitoring Databases into place to prevent fraud and abuse. And the Obama Administration has a laundry list of policy initiatives to put an end to opiate abuse.
However, the opiate addiction facts tell us that there’s only so much that can be done in this area. Most addicts actually form right under our noses. They steal parents’ medicine and are given drugs by friends for free. All the laws and regulations in the world won’t change how 68% first time users get their hands on painkillers. It’s up to us to do something about it.