Although painkillers are designed to reduce or temporarily eliminate pain altogether, the potential for abuse and addiction gives them what some might consider a dark edge. With the subject of painkiller addiction, there are a number of painkiller addiction statistics that are worth studying. These statistics have the potential to reveal of wealth of compelling information. Statistics can also help to illustrate the severity of painkiller addition.
Painkiller addiction stats cannot be explained with two or three key figures. There are a number of components to consider to develop and foster a strong appreciation of painkiller addiction statistics.
Painkiller Addiction Stats
With a basic understanding of what painkillers are capable of, as well as their potential for being abused, it is possible to take this understanding and apply it to the various painkiller addiction statistics that are in existence:
1. Over 3/4th of all prescription drug abuse cases involve painkillers.
2. 2007 saw over 2.5 million U.S. citizens abuse prescription painkillers for the first time.
3. Between the years 1995 and 2002, emergency room visits occurring due to painkiller addiction/abuse rose a staggering 153%.
4. Between the years 1995 and 2005, painkiller addiction that involved being admitted to a treatment program rose by 321%.
5. Between 1994 and 2004, fatalities caused by painkiller abuse/addiction rose 160%.
6. Young adults between the ages of eighteen and twenty-five have the highest frequency of painkiller use. Their increases in abuse are also the greatest.
7. The U.S. dominates the globe for painkiller use and painkiller abuse. Seventy-one percent of all the oxycodone consumed in the world is consumed in the United States. Ninety-nine percent all the hydrocodone/Vicodin consumed in the world is consumed by Americans.
8. The majority of those who abuse painkillers obtain their drugs through a friend or through some member of their family. A very small portion of individuals obtain their drugs through interactions with dealers. An extremely small portion of individuals obtain their drugs through online resources.
9. Marijuana is the most commonly abused drug in America outside of alcohol. Prescription painkiller abuse occurs immediately behind that. Cocaine is after that, which is then followed by hallucinogens.
10. It is estimated that drug abuse and drug addiction lead to expenses for employers that are well over one-hundred-and-twenty-two billion dollars. An additional cost of more than fifteen billion dollars goes into the health insurance costs that are incurred.
Basic Painkiller Addiction Information
With painkiller addiction statistics, there are some basic pieces of information that are important to absorb beforehand:
1. Painkillers are also known as analgesics.
2. The function of painkillers varies from one painkiller to the next. While some painkillers are designed to treat specific conditions (such as migraines), other painkillers are meant to provide relief from a variety of general pain/discomfort symptoms.
3. Painkillers are generally categorized according to how one can obtain them. There are over-the-counter painkillers, which can be purchased without the need for a prescription. There are also prescription painkillers, which require a prescription from medical professional in order to be purchased legally.
4. It is also possible to categorize painkillers according their chemical type. This can include a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory, an opiate, or a combination (such as something that combines acetaminophen with an opiate).
5. There are a variety of ways in which painkillers can be taken. These include a gel capsule, a tablet, liquid form, a topical gel, or an injection.
6. Painkillers can be utilized in circumstances involving terminal conditions, a recent surgery, arthritis, a sprain, a strain, or any other painful, debilitating condition.
7. A painkiller that is used correctly can improve the quality of life for an individual. Depending on the condition being treated with the painkiller, an individual utilizing painkillers can manage their pain and retain various degrees of control and movement over the course of their day-to-day lives.
Unfortunately, if the painkiller is used beyond its intended purpose, or if it is used for purely recreational purposes, the probability of addiction dramatically rises. Certain painkillers lend themselves to the possibility of addiction more than others. However, because of the ease with which painkillers can be obtained over the counter or through a prescription, all of them carry a certain level of addiction potential.
Painkiller Addiction Overview
Looking at the statistics for painkiller addiction, it is natural for a person to begin to wonder what some of the causes are behind it. Psychological and physical factors can lead to addiction, as can the body developing a tolerance. Genetic factors can sometimes play a strong deciding factor in whether or not a person becomes addicted.
Addiction is often the state of an individual who is taking the drug even after their symptoms of pain have disappeared. Many painkiller addictions occur simultaneously with the abuse of other substances, with depression/anxiety, or with a mood disorder of some kind.
A number of treatment options are available to the addicted.