Uninsured in the US likelier to abuse prescription drugs

Drug overdose deaths in the US are increasing due to the crisis in opioid addiction. Opioids are a group of drugs that include Vicodin, OxyContin, fentanyl, and heroin. A recent analysis by the New York Times found that more than 59,000 people in the US died from drug overdose in 2016 – a 19% increase on 2015.

A report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA) noted that about 12.5 million US residents over the age of 11 used prescription painkillers improperly in 2015. This means that they took larger doses than their physician prescribed, or took a prescription drug that wasn’t theirs. The report noted that uninsured people were twice as likely to abuse prescription drugs.

“Uninsured people may not have access to pain treatment,” said Dr Beth Han, a researcher at SAMHSA’s Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality. “They’re more likely to get it from their families and friends.”

More than 50% of individuals who abused painkillers received them from friends or relatives, and about 62% used painkillers to mitigate pain.

Also, 828,000 extra US residents used heroin in 2015. Heroin is the drug of choice for many people addicted to prescription drugs when looking for a stronger, cheaper high. Like with those who misuse painkillers, using heroin was most prevalent among uninsured people, men, young adults, and individuals living in poverty.

Only about 11% of drug addicts were treated for their condition.