Research
Prescription Drug Abuse Epidemiology in Indiana
The prevalence of nonmedical (recreational) prescription drug use among Hoosiers 12 years and older is 20.7 percent for lifetime use, 7.6 percent for past-year use, and 2.7 percent for past-month use. Prevalence rates are based on annual averages from 2002 through 2004, the most recent estimates available from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Most misuse of psychotherapeutics involves pain relievers (see Table 2). And nonmedical use of psychotherapeutics is highest among young people—17.8 percent of 18- to 25-yearolds reported past-year use, followed by 12- to 17-year-olds with 9.5 percent; and lowest among adults age 26 and older with 5.4 percent reporting past-year use.
The rate of past-year prescription drug abuse of Hoosiers ages 18 to 25 (17.8%) is significantly higher than rates among their U.S. counterparts (14.5%), but comparisons between Indiana and the nation across other age groups show no statistical differences.9 Oxycodone (OxyContin, Percodan, and Percocet) is one of the most widely prescribed pain relievers.