High School Seniors Who Misuse Prescription Narcotics Most Likely to Obtain Drugs from a Friend/Relative or a Personal Prescription

Nearly one in ten U.S. 12th graders reported using prescription narcotics without a doctor’s order in the past year, according to data from the 2011 Monitoring the Future survey. Users of prescription narcotics were most likely to report getting the drugs for free from friends or relatives (70%), followed by buying them from a friend or relative (40%,) and getting them from their own prescription (35%). These findings are similar to those of the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), which asks about the use of prescription pain relievers that were not prescribed for the user or were used only for the experience or feeling the drug causes (see CESAR FAX, Volume 20, Issue 41). Reducing the available supply of prescription drugs in households (e.g., through prescription drug takeback programs*) and limiting over prescribing and doctor shopping (e.g., through prescription drug monitoring programs) may help reduce the diversion of prescription pain relievers for nonmedical use.

Source of Narcotic Prescription Drugs Used Without a Doctor’s Orders,
Among U.S. 12th Graders Who Reported Use in the Past Year

(2009-2011 Combined Annual Averages)

 

NOTES: Percentages sum to more than 100% because respondents could indicate multiple sources from which they obtained narcotics other than heroin for past year use without a doctor’s orders. The response option “Other Method” was reported by 11% of users of narcotics other than heroin.

SOURCE:  Adapted by CESAR from the University of Michigan, "Marijuana Use Continues to Rise Among U.S. Teens, While Alcohol Use Hits Historic Lows,” Table 5: Source of  Prescription Drugs, Monitoring the Future Press Release, December 14, 2011. Available online at http://www.monitoringthefuture.org/data/11data/pr11t5.pdf.