A new report shows cases linked to prescription drugs rose from 8 percent of all opiate treatment admissions in 1999 to 33 percent in 2009, according to a release by the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
In comparison, SAMHSA said alcohol-related cases decreased from 48 percent of all treatment admissions in 1999 to 39 percent in 2005, but then increased steadily to 42 percent of all admissions by 2009. Nearly half of alcohol-related admissions involved abuse of other drugs.
In April, the Obama Administration released a plan to reduce prescription drug diversion and abuse by supporting the expansion of state-based prescription drug monitoring programs.
Read the SAMHSA release on prescription opiates.
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