5,400

Over 5,400 people in PA died of a drug-related overdose in 2017.₁ 

95,000

95,000 young adults in PA report misusing a prescription pain reliever in the past year.₂

3X

People between the ages of 18 and 25 are nearly 3 times as likely to misuse prescription drugs than adolescents (ages 12-17) or adults ages 26 and older.

• 38% of young adults who misuse prescription pain relievers (e.g. Vicodin, OxyContin, Percocet) report getting them for free from a friend or relative.
• 46% of young adults who misuse prescription tranquilizers (e.g. Xanax, Valium, Klonopin) report getting them for free from a friend or relative.
• 51% of young adults who misuse prescription stimulants (e.g. Adderall, Ritalin) report getting them for free from a friend or relative.₃

References

1. Drug Enforcement Administration, Pennsylvania. (2018) The Opioid Threat in Pennsylvania.Retrieved from https://www.dea.gov/sites/default/files/2018-10/Opioid%20threat%20in%20Pennsylvania%20FINAL.pdf
2. Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality. (2018). National Survey on Drug Use and Health: 2016-2017 State Specific Tables of Model-Based Estimates. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Rockville, MD. Retrieved from https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/cbhsq-reports/NSDUHsaeSpecificStates2017B/NSDUHsaeSpecificStates2017.htm
3. Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality. (2018). 2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Detailed Tables. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Rockville, MD. Retrieved from https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/cbhsq-reports/NSDUHDetailedTabs2017/NSDUHDetailedTabs2017.pdf

   (Image Source: 2015 NSDUH, https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/NSDUH-FFR2-2015/NSDUH-FFR2-2015.htm#fig7)