National Survey Shows Friends and Family Are Primary Sources of Abused Painkillers

The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) released a new analysis of data from the 2009 and 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) revealing that the majority of new or occasional nonmedical users of pain relievers obtained the drug from family or friends for free or took them without asking. In contrast, frequent or chronic users (those who used pain relievers non-medically once a week or more on average in the past year) were more likely to obtain the drug from doctors or by buying them than were less frequent users.

“These data confirm that properly disposing of expired or unneeded medications is one of the most important actions Americans can take to address our Nation’s prescription drug abuse epidemic,” said Gil Kerlikowske, Director of National Drug Control Policy. “We will continue our unprecedented and comprehensive efforts to address this threat, but at the end of the day, our strongest tool is vigilance among everyone with access to a medicine cabinet.” 

ONDCP findings from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration’s NSDUH averaged for 2009 and 2010 show that over half (55 percent) of persons who used pain relievers non-medically obtained the pain relievers from a friend or relative for free, another 11 percent bought them from a friend or relative, and 5 percent got them from a friend or relative without asking – adding up to 71 percent obtaining their most recently used pain relievers in some fashion from friends and family. Additionally, the more frequently prescription pain relievers are used, the more likely these pain relievers were obtained from doctors or purchased, rather than by getting them for free. 

Some key findings from this analysis: 

• Among new abusers of pain relievers, 68 percent of new users (those who began misuse of pain relievers in the past year) obtained their abused pills from a friend or relative for free or took them without asking, 17 percent were prescribed by one or more doctors, and 9 percent were purchased from a friend, dealer, or the Internet.

• Among occasional abusers of pain relievers (less than once a week on average in the past year), 66 percent obtained the pills for free from a friend or relative or took them without asking, 17 percent were prescribed from one or more doctors, and 13 percent were purchased from a friend or relative, dealer, or the Internet. 

• Among chronic abusers of pain relievers only 41 percent obtained the pills for free or without asking from a friend or relative, 26 percent were prescribed from one or more doctors, and 28 percent were purchased from a friend or relative, dealer or the internet. 

To help Americans address this threat, the Drug Enforcement Administration will host its fourth National Take Back Day on Saturday at more than 5,000 collection sites across the United States. Last October, 377,080 pounds—188.5 tons—of prescription drugs at over 5,300 sites operated by the DEA and state and local law enforcement partners were collected. In its three previous Take Back events, DEA and its partners took in almost a million pounds—nearly 500 tons—of pills. 

A full copy of the ONDCP's analysis, "Epidemic: Responding to America's Prescription Drug Abuse Crisis," is available here. 

Visit www.DEA.gov to find a location taking back medications near you on Saturday.