All data refer to the United States population.
How many people misuse prescription drugs?
Among people aged 12 or older in 2020:
- 5.8% (or about 16.1 million people) reported misusing any prescription psychotherapeutic drug in the past 12 months.
- 1.8% (or about 5.1 million people) reported misusing prescription stimulants in the past 12 months.
- 2.2% (or about 6.2 million people) reported misusing prescription tranquilizers or sedatives in the past 12 months.
- 1.7% (or about 4.8 million people) reported misusing benzodiazepines in the past 12 months.
- 3.3% (or about 9.3 million people) reported misusing prescription pain relievers in the past 12 months.
How many young students misuse prescription drugs?
Among young people in 2021:
- An estimated 4.4% of 12th graders reported misusing any prescription drug in the past 12 months.
- An estimated 3.0% of 8th graders, 2.7% of 10th graders, and 2.3% of 12th graders reported misusing amphetamines in the past 12 months.
- An estimated 0.6% of 8th graders, 0.3% of 10th graders, and 0.5% of 12th graders reported misusing Ritalin in the past 12 months.
- An estimated 1.8% of 8th graders, 1.6% of 10th graders, and 1.8% of 12th graders reported misusing Adderall in the past 12 months.
- An estimated 1.8% of 12th graders reported misusing sedatives (barbiturates) in the past 12 months.
- An estimated 1.1% of 8th graders, 1.3% of 10th graders, and 1.2% of 12th graders reported misusing tranquilizers in the past 12 months.
- An estimated 1.0% of 12th graders reported misusing narcotics other than heroin in the past 12 months.
- An estimated 0.8% of 8th graders, 0.9% of 10th graders, and 0.9% of 12th graders reported misusing OxyContin in the past 12 months.
- An estimated 0.6% of 8th graders, 0.5% of 10th graders, and 0.9% of 12th graders reported misusing Vicodin in the past 12 months.
How many people have a prescription stimulant use disorder
- Among people aged 12 or older in 2020, an estimated 0.3% (or about 758,000 people) had a prescription stimulant use disorder in the past 12 months.
How many people have a prescription tranquilizer or sedative use disorder?
- Among people aged 12 or older in 2020, an estimated 0.4% (or about 1.2 million people) had a prescription tranquilizer or sedative use disorder in the past 12 months.
How many people have a prescription opioid use disorder?
- Among people aged 12 or older in 2020, an estimated 0.8% (or about 2.3 million people) had a prescription opioid use disorder in the past 12 months.
How many people die from prescription opioids?
- In 2020, approximately 16,416 people died from an overdose involving prescription opioids. Learn more about overdose death rates.
How many people die from benzodiazepines?
- In 2020, approximately 12,290 people died from an overdose involving benzodiazepines. Learn more about overdose death rates.
How many people die from antidepressants?
- In 2020, approximately 5,597 people died from an overdose involving antidepressants. Learn more about overdose death rates.