Prescription Drug Problem in California

With the alarming prescription drug problem in California, the Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs has established a Task Force that would evaluate and address the different safety and health issues associated with the increase in rates of prescription drug abuse and misuse in the state. Primarily, prescription drugs include a broad classification of psychotherapeutic medications such as pain relievers, sedatives, tranquilizers, and stimulants that are available in pharmacies by prescription. Moreover, these drugs are approved and intended for legitimate medicinal purposes, and physicians prescribe these to treat or manage various medical or psychological ailments.

Reports Obtained from the NSDUH

According to the 2006 data by the National Survey on Drug Use and Health or NSDUH, about 1.5 million California residents have misused and abused prescription drugs during 2005 to 2006. This report includes 214,000 youth (ages 12 to 17), 456,000 teens, and 812,000 older adults, which make up the entire distribution of prescription drug misuse across these age groups in California. Moreover, pain relievers are the commonly misused type of prescription drug in the state, based on the data gathered by the NSDUH.

In the 2006 report by the NSDUH, about 9.8 percent of individuals between 12 and 17 years old were current users of illicit drugs. In this age group, 6.7 percent youths used marijuana, while 3.3 percent were engaged in the non-medical use and misuse of prescription drugs. Among these youths, the classifications of drugs used varied depending on the age group. For instance, at least 2 percent of 12 to 13 year olds were involved in the non-medical use of of prescription-type drugs, and a smaller percentage used inhalants and marijuana. On the other hand, marijuana was the dominant type of drug used by 14 to 17 year olds. Other types of drugs used by older teens included prescription drugs, hallucinogens, inhalants and cocaine.

At present, the percentage of illicit drug users in California (aged 12 to 17 year olds) has remained stable from the 2005 to 2006 NSDUH report. However, the rates were significantly lower, as compared to the reports gathered in 2002 to 2004, which included misuse of several other drugs such as LSD, tranquilizers, and Ecstasy. In 2002, the rates of prescription drug misuse among youths in California were 11.6 percent, and it dropped to 9.8 percent after four years.

As for the most recent biennial report obtained by the California Student Survey (CSS) in 2007 to 2008, there was a higher pattern of prescription drug use, as compared to the previous years. In fact, there is an existing lifetime use rates for different prescription painkillers such as OxyContin, Percodan and Vicodin among 9th graders in the 2008 report, which went up to 11.6 percent from 9 percent in 2005. This pattern of consistent increase in the non-medical use of prescription-type drugs by California teens underscores the need to incorporate prevention efforts by the Task Force.

The issue on prescription drug misuse in California is even worse among young adults between 18 and 25 years old. According to the 2006 NSDUH report, about 15.6 percent young adults in the state misused prescription drugs each year. The main type of drug misused is narcotic analgesic, which affects at least hundreds of thousands young adults in California. On the other hand, lower percentages appear for the misuse of sedatives, stimulants and tranquilizers.

With these issues in prescription drug misuse in California, the Department of Alcohol and Drug Program aims to develop effective solutions to address this problem that affects youths, young adults and older adults in the state.