- In 2002, 6.2 million Americans abused prescription drugs. Of these, more than 70 percent used painkillers.
- Medicine abuse by U.S. teens and young adults as reported in the Partnership for a Drug Free America’s 2008 annual tracking study:
- 1 in 5 teens have abused a prescription pain medication
- 1 in 5 report abusing prescription stimulants and tranquilizers
- 1 in 10 has abused cough medication
- 85% of overdose deaths are caused by prescription drug abuse
