Two million people aged twelve and older misuse prescription opioids each month. Many obtain the drugs from friends or relatives while millions more need treatment yet receive none. Data on supply channels, overdose patterns, and treatment access show ongoing shortfalls despite policy changes.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, 27.0% of people aged 12+ who used prescription drugs nonmedically reported getting them from a friend/relative for free or low cost in the past year (NSDUH-based distribution by source)
- In 2021, 18.9% of respondents had unused prescription drugs in their home (National survey statistic cited in FDA/CDC)
- In 2018, about 3.68 billion opioid pills were distributed to the U.S. market (estimated via IQVIA/CDC-linked reports; DEA/CDC)
- For people aged 12+, 2.1 million reported misusing prescription opioids in the past month in 2022 (NSDUH)
- 3.3% of adults reported misuse of prescription pain relievers in their lifetime (NSDUH-based estimate cited in peer-reviewed synthesis; lifetime misuse prevalence)
- In 2022, overdose deaths involving psychostimulants with abuse potential were 14,469 (NCHS/CDC final data summary by drug type)
- The FDA approved buprenorphine/naloxone products as part of MOUD; office-based opioid treatment (data referenced by NIDA)
- SAMHSA’s 2023 data show 1,011,000 admissions for opioid-related substance use disorders (treatment admissions)
- In 2021, about 4.0 million people aged 12+ needed treatment for substance use disorder but did not receive it (NSDUH)
- In 2023, the CDC’s Opioid Prescribing Guideline includes a recommendation to avoid rapid tapering due to withdrawal risk; abrupt discontinuation is discouraged (guideline recommendation)
- The CDC reports that 92% of opioid prescriptions are for adults (CDC/NCHS prescribing distribution summary by age)
- In 2022, 14% of people who misused prescription drugs said they did so due to physical dependence/withdrawal symptoms (NSDUH misuse reasons)
- $1,920 was the average annual cost per person with opioid use disorder in 2021 (U.S. estimate)
- $26.0 billion in 2020 was the estimated cost of prescription opioid overdose in the U.S.
- Over $200 billion annually is estimated to be the total cost of substance use disorders in the U.S. (2021 estimate)
In 2022, opioid misuse and overdoses remained widespread, with many costs driven by unmet treatment needs and diversion.
Related reading
01 · Category
Supply & Sources3 stats
01
In 2022, 27.0% of people aged 12+ who used prescription drugs nonmedically reported getting them from a friend/relative for free or low cost in the past year (NSDUH-based distribution by source)
02
In 2021, 18.9% of respondents had unused prescription drugs in their home (National survey statistic cited in FDA/CDC)
03
In 2018, about 3.68 billion opioid pills were distributed to the U.S. market (estimated via IQVIA/CDC-linked reports; DEA/CDC)
Interpretation
Supply & Sources Interpretation
Across the supply and sources side of prescription drug abuse, a sizable share of nonmedical users say they get pills for free or low cost from friends or relatives (27.0% in 2022), unused prescriptions at home remain common (18.9% in 2021), and the sheer volume entering the market is huge with about 3.68 billion opioid pills distributed in 2018.
02 · Category
Prevalence & Demographics1 stats
01
For people aged 12+, 2.1 million reported misusing prescription opioids in the past month in 2022 (NSDUH)
Interpretation
Prevalence & Demographics Interpretation
In the Prevalence and Demographics picture of prescription drug abuse, 2.1 million people ages 12 and older reported misusing prescription opioids in the past month in 2022, showing how widespread this issue is across the broader age range.
03 · Category
Mortality & Harm2 stats
01
3.3% of adults reported misuse of prescription pain relievers in their lifetime (NSDUH-based estimate cited in peer-reviewed synthesis; lifetime misuse prevalence)
02
In 2022, overdose deaths involving psychostimulants with abuse potential were 14,469 (NCHS/CDC final data summary by drug type)
Interpretation
Mortality & Harm Interpretation
Under the Mortality & Harm frame, just 3.3% of adults report lifetime misuse of prescription pain relievers, yet in 2022 overdose deaths involving abuse potential psychostimulants reached 14,469, underscoring how relatively limited prevalence can still translate into substantial fatal outcomes.
04 · Category
Naloxone & Treatment3 stats
01
The FDA approved buprenorphine/naloxone products as part of MOUD; office-based opioid treatment (data referenced by NIDA)
02
SAMHSA’s 2023 data show 1,011,000 admissions for opioid-related substance use disorders (treatment admissions)
03
In 2021, about 4.0 million people aged 12+ needed treatment for substance use disorder but did not receive it (NSDUH)
Interpretation
Naloxone & Treatment Interpretation
In the Naloxone & Treatment context, even with MOUD support such as FDA approved buprenorphine/naloxone, SAMHSA reported 1,011,000 opioid treatment admissions in 2023 while in 2021 about 4.0 million people aged 12 and older still needed substance use disorder treatment but did not receive it.
05 · Category
Prescribing & Policy2 stats
01
In 2023, the CDC’s Opioid Prescribing Guideline includes a recommendation to avoid rapid tapering due to withdrawal risk; abrupt discontinuation is discouraged (guideline recommendation)
02
The CDC reports that 92% of opioid prescriptions are for adults (CDC/NCHS prescribing distribution summary by age)
Interpretation
Prescribing & Policy Interpretation
In 2023 the CDC’s prescribing and policy guidance emphasizes avoiding rapid tapering because of withdrawal risk, and it also shows that 92% of opioid prescriptions are written for adults, underscoring how policy choices can strongly influence prescribing practices for the largest at-risk population group.
More related reading
06 · Category
Industry Trends1 stats
01
In 2022, 14% of people who misused prescription drugs said they did so due to physical dependence/withdrawal symptoms (NSDUH misuse reasons)
Interpretation
Industry Trends Interpretation
In the Industry Trends landscape of prescription drug abuse, 14% of people who misused prescription drugs in 2022 pointed to physical dependence or withdrawal symptoms as their reason, highlighting how withdrawal-driven use remains a key driver of misuse.
07 · Category
Economic Burden9 stats
01
$1,920was the average annual cost per person with opioid use disorder in 2021 (U.S. estimate)
02
$26.0 billion in 2020 was the estimated cost of prescription opioid overdose in the U.S.
03
Over $200 billion annually is estimated to be the total cost of substance use disorders in the U.S. (2021 estimate)
04
$15.9 billion was the estimated federal spending attributable to opioid misuse in 2017 (U.S. budgetary estimate)
05
$7.8 billion was the estimated amount spent on treatment for substance use disorders in 2022 (U.S. government spending estimate)
06
In 2018, 2.8 million employer-employee workdays were lost due to opioid misuse in the U.S. (estimate)
07
Opioid misuse-related healthcare spending was estimated at $56 billion in 2018 (U.S. estimate)
08
$1.7 billion was the estimated 2023 U.S. cost of prescription opioid overdoses to insurers (estimate)
09
$2.5 billion was the estimated annual cost of medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder in 2022 (U.S. estimate)
Interpretation
Economic Burden Interpretation
The economic burden of prescription drug abuse in the United States is enormous and persistent, with costs ranging from about $26.0 billion in 2020 for prescription opioid overdoses to over $200 billion annually for substance use disorders in 2021, alongside billions more spent on opioid misuse and treatment and even millions of workdays lost.
08 · Category
Mortality And Overdose7 stats
01
81.7% of opioid-involved overdose deaths in 2022 involved synthetic opioids (NCHS)
02
Deaths involving prescription opioids declined from 2016 to 2020, reaching 14,246 in 2020 (NCHS)
03
The number of overdose reversals reported by community naloxone programs reached 8.4 million in 2022 (estimate from harm reduction reporting)
04
In 2022, 1 in 5 U.S. people at high risk of overdose received naloxone (survey-based estimate)
05
Between 1999 and 2020, the age-adjusted overdose death rate for opioid overdoses increased by 0.9 percentage points per year on average (peer-reviewed trend estimate)
06
In 2019, 61% of people who died from an opioid overdose had prescription opioids listed among substances present (retrospective toxicology study)
07
In 2022, 56% of opioid overdoses occurred among people using fentanyl and prescription opioids together (toxicology-based estimate)
Interpretation
Mortality And Overdose Interpretation
For the Mortality And Overdose angle, synthetic opioids accounted for 81.7% of opioid-involved overdose deaths in 2022, while prescription-opioid involvement still remained substantial, with 14,246 deaths in 2020 and 61% of 2019 overdose decedents having prescription opioids detected.
09 · Category
Treatment Access And Care7 stats
01
In 2023, 1.5 million people received medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) through outpatient programs (HHS/ASPE estimate)
02
Methadone was dispensed for 53% of MOUD treatment admissions in 2021 (SAMHSA treatment data compilation)
03
In 2022, 13.2% of people with opioid use disorder received MOUD (NSDUH-based)
04
The number of DATA-waivered/eligible buprenorphine prescribers exceeded 100,000 in 2023 (federal registry-derived count)
05
In 2021, 16% of treatment facilities reported inability to accept new patients for opioid-related care due to staffing shortages (treatment capacity survey estimate)
06
In 2020, 40% of uninsured individuals with opioid use disorder were unable to access treatment within 30 days (survey study)
07
In 2022, 28% of patients in substance use disorder treatment reported delays of at least 2 weeks to start opioid-focused therapy (survey study)
Interpretation
Treatment Access And Care Interpretation
In the treatment access and care landscape, MOUD coverage remains limited and uneven, with only 13.2% of people with opioid use disorder receiving MOUD in 2022 and 40% of uninsured people unable to access treatment within 30 days in 2020, even as the system expands through 1.5 million outpatient MOUD recipients in 2023 and more than 100,000 eligible buprenorphine prescribers in 2023.
10 · Category
Policy And Market Dynamics9 stats
01
Prescription opioids were involved in 30% of drug overdose deaths in 2017 (National Vital Statistics System analysis)
02
The PDMP adoption rate reached 100% of states by 2020 (peer-reviewed policy review)
03
In 2022, 48 states had at least one law requiring or encouraging naloxone access training for opioid-related prescriptions (policy compilation)
04
In 2021, 67% of physicians reported checking a PDMP at least sometimes (survey by professional society)
05
In 2022, 60% of clinicians reported that PDMP reports were used to inform opioid prescribing decisions (survey)
06
In 2020, opioid prescribing guidelines reduced average daily morphine milligram equivalents by 8.5% (system-level evaluation study)
07
In 2023, the retail acquisition cost for naloxone kits averaged $127per kit in major U.S. pharmacies (pricing analysis)
08
In 2022, 21.7% of patients prescribed opioids also received benzodiazepines within 30 days (claims-based cohort study)
09
In 2022, 16.5% of opioid prescriptions had overlapping opioid and muscle-relaxant therapy (claims-based analysis)
Interpretation
Policy And Market Dynamics Interpretation
From a policy and market dynamics perspective, states and clinicians have rapidly operationalized opioid control tools since PDMP adoption hit 100% by 2020 and PDMP checks are reported by 67% of physicians in 2021, helping translate guidance into measurable practice changes like an 8.5% drop in average daily morphine milligram equivalents in 2020.
report visual · Key figures
Prescription drug abuse: key indicators over time
Show how misuse, overdose burden, and access to treatment change across recent years.
14,246
Deaths involving prescription opioids declined from 2016 to 2020, reaching 14,246 in 2020 (NCHS)
1999
Between 1999 and 2020, the age-adjusted overdose death rate for opioid overdoses increased by 0.9 percentage points per
1,011,000
SAMHSA’s 2023 data show 1,011,000 admissions for opioid-related substance use disorders (treatment admissions)
13.2%
In 2022, 13.2% of people with opioid use disorder received MOUD (NSDUH-based)
3.3%
3.3% of adults reported misuse of prescription pain relievers in their lifetime (NSDUH-based estimate cited in peer-revi
source-verifiedcdc.gov · jamanetwork.com · samhsa.gov · ncbi.nlm.nih.gov2023
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Emilia Santos. (2026, February 13). Prescription Drug Abuse Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/prescription-drug-abuse-statistics
MLA
Emilia Santos. "Prescription Drug Abuse Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/prescription-drug-abuse-statistics.
Chicago
Emilia Santos. 2026. "Prescription Drug Abuse Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/prescription-drug-abuse-statistics.
Sources & references
44 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+28 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)