SAMHSA: Non-Medical Use of Prescription Painkillers Has Fallen

Use of prescription painkillers for non-medical reasons in the U.S. dropped to 4.31% in 2012-2014, down from 4.63% in 2010-2012, according to a report released last week by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. SAMHSA looked at data from the 2012–2014 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. In the survey, U.S. residents 12 or older were asked about their non-medical use of prescription painkillers over the last year. Among states, nonmedical use of prescription pain relievers ranged from 3.41% in Minnesota to 5.31% in Oklahoma. And in sub-state areas, the lowes...