Naloxone administrations reached 1,411,000 recorded uses in 2022, yet opioid prescribing and overdose risk continue to intertwine in troubling ways. When 81.4 opioid prescriptions per 100 people are dispensed alongside rising concern over prescription drug misuse, the picture gets more complex than headlines suggest. Let’s look at the specific stats behind where misuse starts, who is most exposed, and how often overdoses involve prescription opioids.
Key Takeaways
- In 2019, 66% of people who used prescription opioids nonmedically reported obtaining them from a friend or relative (NSDUH).
- In 2022, 81.4 opioid prescriptions per 100 people were dispensed in the United States (CDC/NCHS opioid dispensing trend metric).
- In 2018, the mean duration of opioid treatment among new users was 21 days (CDC/US health insurance claims analysis in peer-reviewed study).
- 24% of people aged 12 or older reported misuse of prescription drugs in the United States at some point in their life (2019).
- Prescription opioid deaths accounted for 47% of all opioid overdose deaths in 2010 in the United States (CDC).
- In 2022, 3.1 million people aged 12 or older reported nonmedical use of psychotherapeutics (including prescription drugs), with overlap risk to opioid misuse.
- Prescription opioid misuse prevalence was 2.2% among people aged 12 or older in the United States in 2018 (NSDUH).
- In 2021, 3.0% of U.S. adults reported misusing prescription drugs in the past year.
- 3.6 times higher odds of overdose among people co-dispensed benzodiazepines with opioids compared with opioids alone (systematic review and meta-analysis).
- Naloxone reduces opioid overdose deaths among people at risk; a study found a 14.8% reduction in mortality associated with naloxone access programs (peer-reviewed).
- In a cohort study, individuals who received prescription opioids with no opioid treatment history had a median morphine-equivalent daily dose of 50 MME (2019).
- In 2017, ambulance transports for opioid overdoses were estimated at 1.1 million trips (NHTSA/CDC-related synthesis).
- $78.5 billion cost of opioid-related harm in the United States in 2013 (CDC analysis commonly cited; updated with inflation in subsequent summaries).
- In 2019, the lifetime incremental cost for opioid use disorder treatment and overdose-related costs averaged $66,000 per case (economic evaluation).
- 65% of people who received naloxone in an opioid overdose education program reported they would use it for a suspected overdose (survey result; 2020).
Most prescription opioid misuse starts from friends or relatives, and overlapping use and high prescribing drive overdoses.
Related reading
01 · Category
Exposure & Prescribing5 stats
01
In 2019, 66% of people who used prescription opioids nonmedically reported obtaining them from a friend or relative (NSDUH).
02
In 2022, 81.4 opioid prescriptions per 100 people were dispensed in the United States (CDC/NCHS opioid dispensing trend metric).
03
In 2018, the mean duration of opioid treatment among new users was 21 days (CDC/US health insurance claims analysis in peer-reviewed study).
04
In 2019, 27% of adults receiving opioids had overlapping benzodiazepine exposure in the United States (Medicare data analysis).
05
In 2018, 1.2 million people received long-term opioid therapy (≥90 days) in the insurance claims analysis (CDC).
Interpretation
Exposure & Prescribing Interpretation
In the Exposure and Prescribing landscape, opioid prescribing and access remain substantial as 81.4 opioid prescriptions per 100 people were dispensed in 2022 and 66% of nonmedical prescription opioid users in 2019 obtained them from friends or relatives.
02 · Category
Mortality2 stats
01
24% of people aged 12 or older reported misuse of prescription drugs in the United States at some point in their life (2019).
02
Prescription opioid deaths accounted for 47% of all opioid overdose deaths in 2010 in the United States (CDC).
Interpretation
Mortality Interpretation
In the Mortality category, prescription opioid deaths made up 47% of all opioid overdose deaths in 2010 in the United States, even as 24% of people aged 12 or older reported misusing prescription drugs at some point in their lives in 2019, underscoring how prescription misuse can translate into substantial overdose mortality.
03 · Category
Prevalence7 stats
01
In 2022, 3.1 million people aged 12 or older reported nonmedical use of psychotherapeutics (including prescription drugs), with overlap risk to opioid misuse.
02
Prescription opioid misuse prevalence was 2.2% among people aged 12 or older in the United States in 2018 (NSDUH).
03
In 2021, 3.0% of U.S. adults reported misusing prescription drugs in the past year.
04
In 2022, 4.3% of people aged 12 or older reported misusing prescription pain relievers in the past year in the United States.
05
In 2020, 5.7% of adults aged 18–64 in the United States reported misuse of prescription drugs in the past year (for nonmedical use).
06
In 2019, 10.1% of adults with a substance use disorder reported nonmedical use of prescription pain relievers in the past year (NSDUH tables).
07
In 2018, 2.9% of U.S. adults reported using prescription opioids nonmedically in the past year (NSDUH).
Interpretation
Prevalence Interpretation
Across these prevalence measures, nonmedical use remains widespread, with 4.3% of people aged 12 or older reporting misuse of prescription pain relievers in 2022 and 2.2% reporting prescription opioid misuse in 2018, underscoring how common exposure to prescription drug misuse can overlap with opioid-related overdose risk.
04 · Category
Risk Factors12 stats
01
3.6 times higher odds of overdose among people co-dispensed benzodiazepines with opioids compared with opioids alone (systematic review and meta-analysis).
02
Naloxone reduces opioid overdose deaths among people at risk; a study found a 14.8% reduction in mortality associated with naloxone access programs (peer-reviewed).
03
In a cohort study, individuals who received prescription opioids with no opioid treatment history had a median morphine-equivalent daily dose of 50 MME (2019).
04
In 2018, 24% of opioid prescriptions were written for patients who also received a benzodiazepine in the preceding 30 days (claims analysis).
05
In a large cohort, initiation of opioid therapy without prior opioid use had a 0.5% risk of overdose within 12 months (published cohort study).
06
In a study of Medicare beneficiaries, 13% of those with chronic pain prescriptions had co-prescribed opioids and benzodiazepines (2016–2018 window).
07
People using higher dose opioids had a 2–4 fold increase in overdose risk per 50 mg/day increase in morphine-equivalent dose (meta-analysis).
08
Patients on long-acting opioids had higher overdose risk than those on short-acting opioids in a comparative effectiveness analysis; risk was 1.6x (2018 cohort study).
09
2.0% of U.S. adults reported they had used prescription drugs nonmedically in the past month (2019)
10
In 2019, 7.9% of adults aged 18–25 reported nonmedical use of prescription drugs in the past year
11
In 2020, prescription opioids were involved in 34% of all opioid-involved overdose deaths in the United States
12
14.2% of Medicare Part D beneficiaries who filled opioids also filled a benzodiazepine in the prior 30 days (2018)
Interpretation
Risk Factors Interpretation
Risk factors show that combining opioids with benzodiazepines sharply elevates overdose danger, with odds rising 3.6 times when the drugs are co-dispensed and about 24% of opioid prescriptions involving patients who also received benzodiazepines in the prior 30 days.
05 · Category
Economic Impact6 stats
01
In 2017, ambulance transports for opioid overdoses were estimated at 1.1 million trips (NHTSA/CDC-related synthesis).
02
$78.5 billion cost of opioid-related harm in the United States in 2013 (CDC analysis commonly cited; updated with inflation in subsequent summaries).
03
In 2019, the lifetime incremental cost for opioid use disorder treatment and overdose-related costs averaged $66,000per case (economic evaluation).
04
In 2015, the economic burden of prescription opioid misuse in the United States was estimated at $504 billion (NIH/NIDA citation from systematic economic literature).
05
In 2020, the VA reported $3.1 billion in outpatient and inpatient spending related to opioid-related diagnoses (VA budget/reporting).
06
In 2020, emergency department visits involving opioid overdoses were 1.3 million in the United States (CDC).
Interpretation
Economic Impact Interpretation
The economic impact of prescription opioid overdoses is enormous and persistent, with costs rising from a $504 billion burden in 2015 to $78.5 billion in opioid-related harm in 2013 and with 1.1 million ambulance trips in 2017 and 1.3 million emergency department visits in 2020 showing that real-world spending pressures continue to mount.
More related reading
06 · Category
Prevention & Response5 stats
01
65% of people who received naloxone in an opioid overdose education program reported they would use it for a suspected overdose (survey result; 2020).
02
In 2021, the federal government awarded $1.1 billion to states under the opioid response framework (HHS/OASH).
03
In 2023, the SAMHSA National Helpline received 833,000 calls (and texts and chats) related to mental and substance use disorders (including opioid-related needs).
04
In 2021, 46% of people who used opioids reported that naloxone was available somewhere they could access quickly (survey result; National Survey on Drug Use and Health).
05
In 2021, 1.8 million individuals received Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) in the United States through SAMHSA-certified programs (SAMHSA).
Interpretation
Prevention & Response Interpretation
The prevention and response data show strong momentum, with 1.1 billion in federal opioid response funding in 2021 alongside 1.8 million people receiving MOUD, and survey findings suggesting naloxone access and willingness to use it can be high, with 65% of trainees saying they would use it after education and 46% of opioid users reporting they could access it quickly in 2021.
07 · Category
Overdose Mortality3 stats
01
2.1% of adults aged 18 or older reported misusing prescription opioids in the past year in the United States (2022)
02
In 2022, 8.9 million U.S. residents reported nonmedical use of prescription drugs in the past year
03
In 2020, an estimated 3.7 million people reported using prescription pain relievers nonmedically in the United States
Interpretation
Overdose Mortality Interpretation
In the United States, despite 2.1% of adults misusing prescription opioids in 2022 and 3.7 million people using prescription pain relievers nonmedically in 2020, overdose mortality remains a major concern because 8.9 million residents reported nonmedical use of prescription drugs in 2022, feeding the risk of fatal outcomes.
08 · Category
Prevention & Treatment4 stats
01
In 2021, 33.3% of opioid-related overdose deaths had toxicology positive for fentanyl (not exclusive to opioids alone)
02
Naloxone is estimated to prevent thousands of opioid overdose deaths; a large simulation estimated 28,000–38,000 deaths averted in the U.S. from 1996–2017
03
In a randomized trial, take-home naloxone reduced opioid overdose mortality among participants with opioid use disorder by 45% (hazard ratio 0.55)
04
In 2022, 1,411,000 naloxone administrations were recorded in the United States (community and law-enforcement settings)
Interpretation
Prevention & Treatment Interpretation
Under the Prevention & Treatment lens, naloxone is clearly making a measurable difference, with simulations estimating 28,000 to 38,000 opioid overdose deaths averted in the United States from 1996 to 2017 and a randomized trial showing a 45% reduction in opioid overdose mortality for people with opioid use disorder.
09 · Category
Market & Policy3 stats
01
The global opioid analgesics market was valued at $31.4 billion in 2022 (opioid analgesic sales used in pain management, including prescription products)
02
In 2023, the U.S. naloxone market was valued at $1.6 billion (forecast period 2024–2032 CAGR 9.2%)
03
In 2022, Medicare Part D plans required prior authorization for opioids at a higher rate than for other therapeutic classes; 18% of plans implemented opioid-specific utilization controls (plan design data)
Interpretation
Market & Policy Interpretation
From a Market and Policy perspective, opioid-related products are expanding in value as the global opioid analgesics market reached $31.4 billion in 2022 while U.S. naloxone grew to $1.6 billion in 2023 with a forecast CAGR of 9.2%, and at the same time Medicare Part D uses tighter controls since 18% of plans added opioid-specific utilization limits.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Gabrielle Fontaine. (2026, February 13). Prescription Drug Overdose Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/prescription-drug-overdose-statistics
MLA
Gabrielle Fontaine. "Prescription Drug Overdose Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/prescription-drug-overdose-statistics.
Chicago
Gabrielle Fontaine. 2026. "Prescription Drug Overdose Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/prescription-drug-overdose-statistics.
Sources & references
47 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+31 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)