The Impact of Opiate AddictionThe World Health Organization estimates that approximately 2 million people in the US alone are addicted to prescription opiates.

50%

More than half of all teens agreed that prescription drugs are easier to get than illegal drugs

40%

Almost 40% of teens don’t perceive any great risk in trying heroin once or twice

30%

3 in 10 teens believe that prescription pain relievers are not addictive

are just as prevalent, and just as dangerous

is the most widely used illegal opiate

HEROIN PRESCRIPTIONopiate painkillers

The problem is not limited to the medical community, first use of an opiate seems to be getting younger

The total number of opiate prescriptions dispensed by retail pharmacies in the US rose from

1 of 12

3 OUT OF 415,500 Deaths

have used prescription drugs for nonmedical reasons at least once in their lifetime

5220%

million peopleof those age 12and older

high school seniors reported past-year nonmedical use of the prescription pain reliever Vicodin

Narcotic pain relievers now cause or contribute to nearly

Prescription Drug overdoses and aboutCenters for Disease Control and Prevention

1991 2010

76million 210million

Opiate prescriptions

dispensed

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