US youth drug abuse starts with painkillers

Overall illicit drug use among teens ages 12-17 is at a five year low, according to the largest and most comprehensive study of drug use in the USA. But when it comes to youth, non-medical use of painkillers continues to be an area of concern, with more recent initiates (2.2 million) than any illicit drug, reveals the National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

Since 2002, current illicit drug use among 12- to 17-year-olds is down from 11.6% (2002) to 9.8% (2006), marking a cumulative decrease of 16%. In that same time period, current marijuana use also decreased 18% (from 8.2% in 2002 to 6.7% in 2006).

Abuse of prescription drugs among youth, however, continues to be an area of concern. Non-medical use of painkillers was the illicit drug use category with the largest number of recent initiates among persons aged 12 or older (2.2 million). According to the study, seven million persons aged 12 or older used prescription-type psychotherapeutic drugs non-medically in the past month. Of these, 5.2 million used painkillers, a 10% increase from 2005 (4.7 million). Moreover, among those aged 12 or older who used painkillers non-medically in the past 12 months, 55.7% reported that they obtained the drugs from "a friend or relative for free."