Illicit Use of Pain Meds a Gateway to Heroin Abuse
Illicit Use of Pain Meds a Gateway to Heroin Abuse
Nonmedical use of prescription pain relievers has been linked to a significantly increased risk for heroin abuse, new research shows.
A report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) shows that individuals aged 12 to 49 years who had used prescription pain relievers nonmedically were 19 times more likely to have started using heroin within the past 12 months compared with their counterparts who had not abused prescription meds — 0.39% vs 0.02%.
The research also revealed that 80% of heroin users had previously used prescription pain relievers nonmedically.
"Prescription pain relievers, when used properly for their intended purpose, can be of enormous benefit to patients, but the nonmedical use can lead to addiction, serious physical harm, and even death," Peter Delany, PhD, director of SAMHSA's Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, said in a release.
"This report shows that it can also greatly increase an individual's risk of turning to heroin use — thus adding a new dimension of potential harm," Dr. Delany added.
The report showed that the number of individuals reporting heroin use in the past 12 months rose from 373,000 in 2007 to 620,000 in 2011. Similarly, the number of individuals who became heroin-dependent in the past 12 months rose from 179,000 in 2007 to 369,000 in 2011.
The number of individuals who initiated heroin use for the first time in the past 12 months increased from 106,000 in 2007 to 178,000 in 2011.
The investigators report that past-year heroin rates went up sharply in all regions of the United States except the South, where the rate remained the lowest in the country.
The authors report no relevant financial relationships.
Center for Behavioral Health Statistics Quality Data Review. August 2013. Full text
Nonmedical use of prescription pain relievers has been linked to a significantly increased risk for heroin abuse, new research shows.
A report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) shows that individuals aged 12 to 49 years who had used prescription pain relievers nonmedically were 19 times more likely to have started using heroin within the past 12 months compared with their counterparts who had not abused prescription meds — 0.39% vs 0.02%.
The research also revealed that 80% of heroin users had previously used prescription pain relievers nonmedically.
"Prescription pain relievers, when used properly for their intended purpose, can be of enormous benefit to patients, but the nonmedical use can lead to addiction, serious physical harm, and even death," Peter Delany, PhD, director of SAMHSA's Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, said in a release.
"This report shows that it can also greatly increase an individual's risk of turning to heroin use — thus adding a new dimension of potential harm," Dr. Delany added.
The report showed that the number of individuals reporting heroin use in the past 12 months rose from 373,000 in 2007 to 620,000 in 2011. Similarly, the number of individuals who became heroin-dependent in the past 12 months rose from 179,000 in 2007 to 369,000 in 2011.
The number of individuals who initiated heroin use for the first time in the past 12 months increased from 106,000 in 2007 to 178,000 in 2011.
The investigators report that past-year heroin rates went up sharply in all regions of the United States except the South, where the rate remained the lowest in the country.
The authors report no relevant financial relationships.
Center for Behavioral Health Statistics Quality Data Review. August 2013. Full text
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