National Drug Intelligence Center |
This assessment focuses primarily on domestic diversion of controlled prescription drugs (CPDs). It examines current nonmedical use of prescription-type psychotherapeutic drugs (opioid pain relievers, tranquilizers, sedatives, or stimulants) and discusses their distribution, the societal impact of CPD diversion and abuse, and Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMPs) that have been established legislatively in many states to stem CPD diversion and abuse. This assessment also examines regional deviations from national trends.
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Scope and Methodology
Information Sources
Collection Impediments
Collection Methods
Range of Data
Data Terminology
Database Variances
Legitimate Distribution of CPDs
Regional Deviations From National Trends
Florida/Caribbean Region
Great Lakes Region
Mid-Atlantic Region
New England Region
New York/New Jersey Region
Pacific Region
Southeast Region
Southwest Region
West Central Region
Appendix A. NDTS Comparative Data
Greatest Drug Threat
Availability
Drugs Associated With Violent Crime
Drugs Associated With Property Crime
Appendix B. Controlled Prescription Drug Prices Collected in 2008
Figure 1.
Prescription Opioid Analgesic Deaths Nationwide, 2001-2005
Figure 2.
Past Month Nonmedical Use of Psychotherapeutics by Individuals 12 or
Older, by Percentage, Nationwide, 2003-2007
Figure 3. Cumulative Distribution of Opioids, Methylphenidate, and
Amphetamine, in Grams, per 100,000 Population, 2003-2007
Figure 4.
Estimated Number of Total Analyzed Controlled Prescription Drug
Items, 2003-2007
Figure 5. Internet Sites Advertising or Offering to Sell
Controlled Prescription Drugs, 2004-2008
Figure 6.
Percentage of Law Enforcement Agencies Reporting High Availability
of Pharmaceuticals, by OCDETF Region, 2004-2008
Figure 7.
Percentage of Law Enforcement Agencies Reporting an Association
Between Diverted Pharmaceuticals and Crime, 2004-2008
Figure 8.
Percentage of Law Enforcement Agencies Reporting Street Gang
Involvement in Pharmaceutical Distribution, by OCDETF Region,
2004-2008
Figure 9.
Percentage of Law Enforcement Agencies Reporting OMG Involvement in
Pharmaceutical Distribution, by OCDETF Region, 2004-2008
Figure 10. Status of Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs as of
January 1, 2009
Figure 11. Aggregate Production Quotas for Selected Schedule II
Controlled Prescription Drugs, in Kilograms, 2004-2008
Figure 12. Percentage of Past Month Nonmedical Use of
Psychotherapeutics, by Age, 2003-2007
Figure 13.
Specific Drug Used When Initiating Illicit Drug Use Among Past Year
Initiates of Illicit Drugs, Aged 12 or Older, 2007
Figure 14.
Past Year Initiates for Specific Illicit Drugs Among Persons Aged 12
or Older, in Thousands, 2007
Figure 15.
Past Month Nonmedical Use of Psychotherapeutics by Individuals 12
and Older, in Percentages, 2003-2007
Figure 16.
Percentage of Teenagers Who Used a Prescription Pain Reliever or
Stimulant Not Prescribed for Them, 2004-2008
Figure 17.
Percentage of Teenagers With Friends or Classmates Who Abuse
Prescription Drugs, 2004-2008
Figure 18.
Past Month Use of Psychotherapeutics Among 12- to 17-Year-Olds, in
Percentages, 2003-2007
Figure 19.
Unintentional Prescription Opioid Analgesic, Cocaine, and Heroin
Deaths Nationwide, 2001-2005
Figure 20. Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Regions.
Figure 21.
Percentage of Law Enforcement Agencies Reporting Greatest Drug
Threat, by Drug, Nationwide, 2004-2008
Figure 22.
Percentage of Law Enforcement Agencies Reporting High Availability,
by Drug, Nationwide, 2004-2008
Figure 23.
Percentage of Law Enforcement Agencies Reporting Association Between
Drug Type and Violent Crime, Nationwide, 2004-2008
Figure 24.
Percentage of Law Enforcement Agencies Reporting Association Between
Drug Type and Property Crime, Nationwide, 2004-2008
Table 1.
Prescriptions Written for Generic or Brand Name Opioid Pain
Relievers, Methylphenidate, and Amphetamine, in Thousands, 2003-2007
Table 2.
Controlled Prescription Drug Seizures Reported to the National
Seizure System, by Measurement Provided, 2003-2008
Table 3.
Schedule II-V Controlled Prescription Drugs Reported Stolen or Lost
in Transit Nationwide in Milliliters and Quantities, 2003-2007
Table 4. Percentage of Law Enforcement Agencies Reporting High
Levels of Diversion/Illicit Use of Pharmaceuticals, 2006-2008
Table 5.
Trends in Annual Prevalence of Nonmedical Use of Prescription Drugs
in Grades 8, 10, and 12, by Percentage, 2004-2008
Table 6.
Emergency Department Visits for Nonmedical Use of Selected
Controlled Prescription Drugs and Percent of Change, 2004-2006
Table B1. Controlled Prescription Drug Prices Collected in 2008
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