Date: 3/17/2009
Media Contact: SAMHSA
Press Office
Telephone: 240-276-2130
New Report Reveals Treatment Admissions for Prescription Pain Killers are on
the Rise
Largest Share of Treatment Admissions is Still
for Alcohol Abuse, But Has Significantly Decreased Over the Past
Decade
Treatment admissions for prescription pain killer misuse has risen
dramatically over the past decade – from constituting 1 percent of all
admissions in 1997 to now representing 5 percent, according to a report by the
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
The Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS) 2007 Highlights report also indicates
that although alcohol-related admissions still account for the largest share (40
percent) of the 1.8 million treatment admissions occurring throughout the
country during 2007, this reflects a reduction from 50 percent in 1997.
The TEDS 2007 Highlights report is the latest in a series of yearly reports,
developed by SAMHSA, providing demographic and other information on substance
abuse treatment admissions from state licensed treatment facilities (most of
them publicly-funded) across the country. Although it does not include
information on all treatment admissions, it is the largest, most comprehensive
study of its kind and provides a vast array of specialized data on the
characteristics of substance abuse treatment in the United States.
Among the findings:
• The percentage of treatment admissions for primary heroin abuse is at about
the same level it was a decade ago (14 percent).
• The percentage of treatment admissions primarily due to
methamphetamine/amphetamine abuse is relatively small. Admissions accounted for
4 percent in 1997, rose to 9 percent in 2005, then decreased to 8 percent in
2006 and remained at 8 percent in 2007.
• Even though the proportion of admissions for primary marijuana abuse
increased from 12 percent in 1997 to 16 percent in 2003, admissions have
remained steady at 16 percent each year after.
“The TEDS report provides valuable insight into the true nature and scope of
the challenges confronting the substance abuse treatment community,” said SAMHSA
Acting Administrator Eric Broderick, D.D.S., M.P.H. “By carefully analyzing this
data, the public health community can better anticipate and address emerging
needs.”
The report is available online at http://oas.samhsa.gov/TEDS2k7highlights/TOC.cfm
Copies
may be obtained free of charge by calling SAMHSA’s Health Information Network at
1-877-SAMHSA-7 (1-877-726-4727) or by visiting http://ncadistore.samhsa.gov/catalog/productDetails.aspx?ProductID=17972http://www.samhsa.gov/ .
. For related publications and information, visit
SAMHSA is a public health agency within the Department of
Health and Human Services. The agency is responsible for improving the
accountability, capacity and effectiveness of the nation's substance abuse
prevention, addictions treatment, and mental health services delivery
system.
