Prescription Painkiller Overdose Deaths Reach Epidemic Levels
Middle-aged adults have the highest rate of overdoses from prescription painkillers. More men than women die from prescription painkiller overdose, and people in rural counties are twice as likely to over dose than people in big cities. Deaths involving prescription painkillers have increased by 250% since 1999. Every year, nearly 15,000 people die from overdoses involving these drugs.
A big part of the problem is nonmedical use of prescription painkillers—using these drugs without a prescription, or using these drugs just for the “high” they cause. In 2010, about 12 million Americans (age 12 or older) reported nonmedical use of prescription painkillers in the past year.
The CDC Vital Signs report released on November 1, 2011 discusses this growing epidemic; shares national and state-based data on drug overdose death rates, substance abuse treatment rates, nonmedical use, and prescription painkiller sales; and suggests measures for prevention of prescription painkiller overdoses.
What You Can Do:
- Use prescription painkillers only as directed by your health care provider
- Do not share or sell your prescription medications
- Store prescription medications in a secure place
- Dispose of unused medications at a community collection event, in a locked drop box found at some local police stations, or contact the Mail-back Program by calling 1-866-637-9743 or http://www.safemeddisposal.com/sites.php
- View a short video about proper medication use at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_xxS6AbpNM
- Get help for substance abuse problems if needed (1-800-662-HELP).
Learn more about this growing epidemic, spread the word to others, and take action. Visit the Prescription Painkiller Overdoses Vital Signs Web page to find the Vital Signs MMWR article, fact sheet, podcast, and CDC.gov feature article.