Opioid dependence is widespread
Opioid dependence is more common than people think: in fact, more than 1.6 million people in the US are dependent on painkillers and other opioids. Opioid dependence affects men and women of all ages, races, ethnic groups, and educational levels. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH):
- An estimated 5.2 million people aged 12 and older misused prescription painkillers in 2007
- More than 33 million people aged 12 and older had misused pain relievers in their lifetime
- Approximately 153,000 people used heroin in 2007
Opioid dependence can happen to anyone—a friend, a neighbor, a co-worker, a spouse, a brother, sister, or parent. Yet a recent national survey, Prescription Painkiller/Heroin Addiction & Its Treatment, found that nearly half of the public is unaware that misusing opioid prescription painkillers is as harmful as abusing heroin.
Fortunately, as more people come to understand that opioid dependency is a medical condition, more people are getting treatment in the privacy of a doctor’s office.
Hear real-life stories
Find out what others have faced—and how treatment helped.
Find a doctor near you. Use the Physician Locator to find a doctor certified to treat opioid dependence in the privacy of his or her office.
This site is provided for educational and informational purposes only
and is not intended as a substitute for direct consultation with a qualified mental health professional.
and is not intended as a substitute for direct consultation with a qualified mental health professional.
This site is sponsored by Reckitt Benckiser Pharmaceuticals Inc. and intended for residents of the United States.
© 2009 Reckitt Benckiser Pharmaceuticals Inc.
© 2009 Reckitt Benckiser Pharmaceuticals Inc.
