Author: Charles Frank

HHS, SAMHSA Release 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health Data

Follow these steps to help prevent your teen from abusing prescription medicines. Some people fear that they may become addicted to medicines prescribed for medical conditions, such as painkillers prescribed after surgery. But you can reduce your risk by carefully following your health care provider’s instructions on how to take your medicine. Early identification of prescription drug abuse and early intervention may prevent the problem from turning into an addiction.

From February through June 2023, the Monitoring the Future investigators collected 22,318 surveys from students enrolled across 235 public and private schools in the United States. These drugs contain the opioid hydrocodone plus acetaminophen. Vicodin’s street names include “vike” and “Watson-387.” If you feel sick, like you’re having the flu, after stopping any of these opioid medications, your body may have become dependent. Talk to you doctor if you feel you need these medications for more than pain relief. It’s in drugs like OxyContin, Percocet,Percodan, and Roxicodone.

How does the general public benefit by the rate of drug overdose deaths dropping?

Alprazolam (Xanax), clonazepam (Klonopin) and diazepam (Valium) are two examples of benzodiazepines — another type of sedative that can help with anxiety, panic attacks, and sleep problems. But overused, and even used as prescribed, they can also lead to physical dependence and addiction. If you feel you depend on these medications, talk to your doctor. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), released the results of the 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH).

HHS, SAMHSA Release 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health Data

We’ve seen policies change where we put caps in place for how much people pay for insulin. We haven’t had the same drive when it comes to opioid use disorder. An increasing problem, prescription drug abuse can affect all age groups, including teens. The prescription drugs most often misused include opioid painkillers, anti-anxiety medicines, sedatives and stimulants.

More on Substance Abuse and Addiction

  1. Substance use disorders involve a wide range of substances and patterns of abuse.
  2. Trauma and its effects are also gaining wider acceptance as contributors to the development of mental health illnesses and disorders, including substance abuse.
  3. Prescription drug abuse may become ongoing and compulsive, despite the negative consequences.
  4. But because there are hundreds of drugs and thousands of pills and tablets of all shapes, colors, and sizes, you may need a pharmacist to identify it.
  5. That’s why some cold medicines are located behind the counter and why you may have to sign for some.
  6. Therefore, students with less engagement in school – a known risk factor for drug use – may have been less likely to participate in the survey.

So, there’s been this intentional focus that shifted toward including more of a harm reduction approach instead of primarily focusing on prevention alone. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is the agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation. SAMHSA’s mission is to lead public health and service delivery efforts that promote mental health, prevent substance misuse, and provide treatments and supports to foster recovery while ensuring equitable access and better outcomes. Reported use for almost all substances decreased dramatically between 2020 and 2021, after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and related changes like school closures and social distancing. In 2022, most reported substance use among adolescents held steady at these lowered levels, and these latest data show that this trend has continued into 2023.

Older adults and prescription drug abuse

The 2023 data continue to document stable or declining trends in the use of illicit drugs among young people over many years. However, importantly, other research has reported a dramatic rise in overdose deaths among teens between 2010 to 2021, which remained elevated well into 2022 according to a NIDA analysis of CDC and Census data. This increase is largely attributed to illicit fentanyl, a potent synthetic drug, contaminating the supply of counterfeit pills made to resemble prescription medications. Taken together, these data suggest that while drug use is not becoming more common among young people, it is becoming more dangerous. This is another reason why we should be cautious in how we interpret these data; we still have extremely high levels of overdose deaths even by any modern standards.

The report shows how people living in the United States reported about their experience with mental health, substance use, and treatment related behaviors in 2022. The report is accompanied by a high-level brief that includes infographics. The Monitoring the Future survey is given annually to students in eighth, 10th, and 12th grades who self-report their substance use behaviors over various time periods, such as past 30 days, past 12 months, and lifetime. The survey also documents students’ perceptions of harm, disapproval of use, and perceived availability of drugs. The survey results are released the same year the data are collected.

To curb meth abuse, U.S. laws now control how you buy pseudoephedrine products. That’s why some cold medicines are located behind the counter and why you may have to sign for some. A top CDC official called the numbers “heartening news” and said the progress should reinvigorate further efforts. Although it is true that symptoms for both disorders tend to improve when even 1 of the disorders is treated, the best long-term results come from treating both conditions at the same time. In this article, we will discuss the most pertinent drug trends to be aware of in 2023. The 2023 Monitoring the Future data tables highlighting the survey results are available online from the University of Michigan.

Prescription painkiller alternatives are being further developed, including approaches that involve various types of therapy. The need to address underlying issues that might lead to drug use, including unresolved trauma and undiagnosed cooccurring disorders, is also coming more into focus. When prescribed, stimulants like the amphetamines Adderall,Adderall XR, Dextroamphetamine, and Mydasis can help people with ADHD. But some people use amphetamines to get high, to boost energy and alertness, or to keep their weight down. High doses can cause a dangerous rise in body temperature, irregular heartbeat, and even cardiac arrest. Nicknames for amphetamines include “bennies,” “black beauties,” and “speed.”

Doctors usually prescribe morphine for severe pain and codeine for milder pain or coughing. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released preliminary data last week predicting the number of drug overdose deaths nationally fell by a record amount (12.7%) from May 2023 to May 2024. SAMHSA’s mission is to lead public health and service delivery efforts that promote mental health, prevent substance misuse, and provide treatments and supports to foster recovery while ensuring equitable access and better outcomes. Because commonly abused prescription drugs activate the brain’s reward center, it’s possible to develop physical dependence and addiction.