NATIONAL HOUSEHOLD SURVEY ON DRUG ABUSE: prescription drug tables

1997 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse

Discussion

The 1997 rates of nonmedical use of prescription-type psychotherapeutic drugs were not greatly different from the 1996 rates. The 1997 prevalence rates for lifetime use, however, were significantly lower than were many of the corresponding rates reported in the years prior to 1995. Past year and past month rates in 1997 were generally lower than corresponding rates in 1985 and 1988, but rates for these time periods of use remained relatively stable from 1991 to 1997.

Rates of lifetime, past year, and past month use of any psychotherapeutic differed between many subgroups defined by the demographic characteristics of age, race/ethnicity, gender, geography, education, and employment status. With a few exceptions, young and middle adults, males, and whites were more likely than their counterparts in other demographic subgroups to report the nonmedical use of psychotherapeutic drugs. Residents of nonmetropolitan areas and adults in the "other" employment category were less likely to report the nonmedical use of psychotherapeutic drugs. It is noteworthy that, in general, similar patterns of demographic subgroup differences were observed for each major category of psychotherapeutic drugs.

Lastly, it appeared that analgesics were the kind of psychotherapeutic most commonly used nonmedically, overall and by every age group. For example, among adolescents aged 12 to 17, the rate of past year analgesic use (3.6%) was more than twice that of stimulants (1.7%) and tranquilizers (1.3%) and almost 10 times that of sedatives (0.4%).

Table 6.1 Percentage Reporting Nonmedical Use of Any Prescription-Type Psychotherapeutic in Their Lifetime, by Age Group and Demographic Characteristics: 1997


Demographic Characteristic	Age Group in Years				Total
Demographic Characteristic	12-17	18-25	26-34	35+	Total

Total	7.0	11.5	11.7	8.3	9.1

Gender
Male	6.8	13.3	13.1	10.0	10.6
Female	7.2	9.7	10.3	6.7	7.7
Race/Ethnicity¹
White, non-Hispanic	7.6	13.2	14.0	9.2	10.3
Black, non-Hispanic	6.1	6.2	5.8	4.0	5.0
Hispanic	6.0	8.3	6.9	5.1	6.2
Population Density
Large metro	6.9	12.6	11.6	7.7	9.0
Small metro	7.6	12.0	12.4	10.9	11.0
Nonmetro	6.2	8.7	10.7	5.2	6.5
Region
Northeast	4.4	8.5	7.3	4.8	5.5
North Central	5.1	9.9	13.6	7.5	8.6
South	7.9	12.0	10.6	8.5	9.2
West	9.4	14.6	14.9	11.9	12.5
Adult Education²
Less than high school	N/A	13.7	13.4	4.5	7.2
High school graduate	N/A	11.6	9.7	6.7	8.0
Some college	N/A	11.3	13.7	12.2	12.4
College graduate	N/A	7.3	11.2	9.8	10.0
Current Employment³
Full-time	N/A	13.0	11.3	11.4	11.6
Part-time	N/A	10.8	14.7	6.6	9.2
Unemployed	N/A	11.6	15.1	*	13.6
Other⁴	N/A	8.8	10.3	4.0	5.0

Note: Due to improved procedures implemented in 1994, these estimates are not comparable with those presented in NHSDA Main Findings prior to 1994.

*Low precision; no estimate reported.
N/A: Not applicable.

¹ The category "other" for race/ethnicity is not included.
² Data on adult education are not applicable for youths aged 12 to 17. Total refers to adults aged 18 or older (unweighted n=16,661).
³ Data on current employment are not applicable for youths aged 12 to 17. Total refers to adults aged 18 or older (unweighted n=16,661).
⁴ Retired, disabled, homemaker, student, or "other."
Source: Office of Applied Studies, SAMHSA, National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, 1997.

Table 6.2 Percentage Reporting Nonmedical Use of Any Prescription-Type Psychotherapeutic in the Past Year, by Age Group and Demographic Characteristics: 1997


Demographic Characteristic	Age Group in Years				Total
Demographic Characteristic	12-17	18-25	26-34	35+	Total

Total	5.0	5.8	3.7	1.6	2.8

Gender
Male	4.7	7.0	4.5	1.9	3.3
Female	5.3	4.6	2.8	1.3	2.4
Race/Ethnicity¹
White, non-Hispanic	5.7	6.7	4.4	1.7	3.0
Black, non-Hispanic	3.5	2.8	2.0	1.4	2.0
Hispanic	3.8	4.0	2.1	1.0	2.1
Population Density
Large metro	4.7	5.8	2.7	1.7	2.7
Small metro	5.3	6.9	4.1	2.0	3.4
Nonmetro	5.1	4.1	5.4	0.7	2.3
Region
Northeast	3.6	1.9	1.6	0.6	1.1
North Central	3.2	4.4	3.9	1.9	2.7
South	5.8	6.9	4.0	1.5	3.1
West	6.4	8.2	4.6	2.5	4.0
Adult Education²
Less than high school	N/A	6.2	6.0	1.2	2.6
High school graduate	N/A	6.4	3.2	1.5	2.5
Some college	N/A	5.6	3.2	2.1	3.0
College graduate	N/A	3.8	3.5	1.6	2.1
Current Employment³
Full-time	N/A	5.9	3.4	2.2	3.0
Part-time	N/A	7.0	5.6	1.0	3.6
Unemployed	N/A	6.5	5.3	0.9	3.4
Other⁴	N/A	4.1	3.1	0.9	1.4

Note: Due to improved procedures implemented in 1994, these estimates are not comparable with those presented in NHSDA Main Findings prior to 1994.

N/A: Not applicable.

Table 6.3 Percentage Reporting Nonmedical Use of Any Prescription-Type Psychotherapeutic in the Past Month, by Age Group and Demographic Characteristics: 1997


Demographic Characteristic	Age Group in Years				Total
Demographic Characteristic	12-17	18-25	26-34	35+	Total

Total	2.1	2.4	1.4	0.8	1.2

Gender
Male	1.7	2.9	1.5	0.9	1.4
Female	2.5	1.9	1.4	0.6	1.1
Race/Ethnicity¹
White, non-Hispanic	2.3	2.6	1.7	0.8	1.3
Black, non-Hispanic	2.2	2.0	1.0	0.6	1.1
Hispanic	1.9	2.2	0.9	0.6	1.1
Population Density
Large metro	2.1	2.7	1.1	0.9	1.3
Small metro	2.0	2.6	1.5	1.0	1.4
Nonmetro	2.2	1.7	2.2	0.1	0.8
Region
Northeast	1.2	0.3	0.1	0.1	0.2
North Central	1.1	1.2	1.7	0.9	1.1
South	2.1	3.2	1.8	0.9	1.5
West	3.7	3.9	1.6	1.2	1.9
Adult Education²
Less than high school	N/A	2.8	2.4	0.7	1.3
High school graduate	N/A	2.7	1.3	0.7	1.1
Some college	N/A	2.3	1.7	1.0	1.4
College graduate	N/A	1.0	0.9	0.7	0.8
Current Employment³
Full-time	N/A	2.4	1.2	1.2	1.3
Part-time	N/A	2.4	3.0	0.2	1.3
Unemployed	N/A	4.0	1.4	0.6	1.7
Other⁴	N/A	1.9	1.3	0.4	0.6

Note: Due to improved procedures implemented in 1994, these estimates are not comparable with those presented in NHSDA Main Findings prior to 1994.

N/A: Not applicable.

Table 6.4 Percentage Reporting Nonmedical Use of Any Prescription-Type Stimulant in Their Lifetime, by Age Group and Demographic Characteristics: 1997


Demographic Characteristic	Age Group in Years				Total
Demographic Characteristic	12-17	18-25	26-34	35+	Total

Total	2.3	3.8	5.2	4.9	4.5

Gender
Male	2.4	4.3	5.9	6.7	5.7
Female	2.2	3.3	4.5	3.3	3.4
Race/Ethnicity¹
White, non-Hispanic	2.7	4.4	6.5	5.7	5.4
Black, non-Hispanic	1.3	1.2	0.9	1.3	1.2
Hispanic	1.8	2.8	2.8	2.1	2.3
Population Density
Large metro	2.6	4.2	4.9	4.4	4.3
Small metro	1.9	3.6	6.2	6.9	5.8
Nonmetro	2.5	3.4	4.2	2.7	3.0
Region
Northeast	2.1	1.5	3.0	3.0	2.8
North Central	1.1	2.8	4.2	3.3	3.2
South	2.3	3.6	5.2	5.5	4.8
West	3.7	7.1	8.0	7.2	6.9
Adult Education²
Less than high school	N/A	4.8	6.0	3.2	3.8
High school graduate	N/A	4.0	4.3	3.8	3.9
Some college	N/A	3.6	6.7	6.5	6.0
College graduate	N/A	1.8	4.3	6.3	5.6
Current Employment³
Full-time	N/A	4.2	5.0	7.2	6.3
Part-time	N/A	3.5	5.1	2.3	3.1
Unemployed	N/A	4.0	9.2	*	6.5
Other⁴	N/A	3.1	4.6	2.3	2.5

Note: Due to improved procedures implemented in 1994, these estimates are not comparable with those presented in NHSDA Main Findings prior to 1994.

*Low precision; no estimate reported.
N/A: Not applicable.

Table 6.5 Percentage Reporting Nonmedical Use of Any Prescription-Type Methamphetamine in Their Lifetime, by Age Group and Demographic Characteristics: 1997


Demographic Characteristic	Age Group in Years				Total
Demographic Characteristic	12-17	18-25	26-34	35+	Total

Total	1.2	2.3	2.7	2.6	2.5

Gender
Male	1.3	2.7	3.6	3.8	3.3
Female	1.2	1.9	1.8	1.6	1.6
Race/Ethnicity¹
White, non-Hispanic	1.5	2.9	3.4	3.0	2.9
Black, non-Hispanic	0.1	0.2	0.1	0.6	0.4
Hispanic	1.2	1.7	1.5	1.5	1.5
Population Density
Large metro	1.0	2.5	2.2	2.0	2.0
Small metro	1.1	2.3	3.5	4.0	3.4
Nonmetro	1.9	2.0	2.4	1.5	1.7
Region
Northeast	1.0	1.2	2.1	1.8	1.7
North Central	0.4	0.9	1.4	2.3	1.8
South	1.2	1.9	2.1	2.4	2.2
West	2.4	5.4	5.5	4.0	4.3
Adult Education²
Less than high school	N/A	3.1	3.3	1.7	2.2
High school graduate	N/A	2.6	2.2	1.9	2.1
Some college	N/A	2.1	3.6	4.4	3.8
College graduate	N/A	0.5	2.1	2.8	2.5
Current Employment³
Full-time	N/A	2.4	2.6	4.4	3.7
Part-time	N/A	2.6	3.2	1.4	2.1
Unemployed	N/A	2.1	5.9	1.2	2.5
Other⁴	N/A	1.7	2.0	0.6	0.9

Note: Due to improved procedures implemented in 1994, these estimates are not comparable with those presented in NHSDA Main Findings prior to 1994.

N/A: Not applicable.

Table 6.6 Percentage Reporting Nonmedical Use of Any Prescription-Type Sedative in Their Lifetime, by Age Group and Demographic Characteristics: 1997


Demographic Characteristic	Age Group in Years				Total
Demographic Characteristic	12-17	18-25	26-34	35+	Total

Total	0.8	1.5	2.0	2.1	1.9

Gender
Male	0.6	2.2	2.1	2.5	2.2
Female	1.1	0.9	2.0	1.7	1.6
Race/Ethnicity¹
White, non-Hispanic	0.9	1.7	2.5	2.4	2.2
Black, non-Hispanic	0.9	0.9	0.8	0.5	0.7
Hispanic	1.0	1.3	1.4	1.5	1.4
Population Density
Large metro	0.7	1.4	1.8	2.5	2.1
Small metro	0.9	1.5	2.4	2.0	1.9
Nonmetro	1.2	1.8	2.1	1.5	1.6
Region
Northeast	0.4	0.8	2.1	1.2	1.2
North Central	0.2	1.0	2.2	1.1	1.2
South	1.2	2.3	2.0	2.3	2.1
West	1.3	1.3	1.9	3.7	2.8
Adult Education²
Less than high school	N/A	3.4	4.0	1.4	2.1
High school graduate	N/A	1.4	1.6	1.7	1.6
Some college	N/A	0.8	1.8	3.1	2.4
College graduate	N/A	0.2	1.7	2.4	2.1
Current Employment³
Full-time	N/A	1.9	1.5	2.9	2.5
Part-time	N/A	0.9	4.3	1.4	1.7
Unemployed	N/A	1.1	2.9	0.9	1.4
Other⁴	N/A	1.4	2.6	1.3	1.4

Note: Due to improved procedures implemented in 1994, these estimates are not comparable with those presented in NHSDA Main Findings prior to 1994.

N/A: Not applicable.

Table 6.7 Percentage Reporting Nonmedical Use of Any Prescription-Type Tranquilizer in Their Lifetime, by Age Group and Demographic Characteristics: 1997


Demographic Characteristic	Age Group in Years				Total
Demographic Characteristic	12-17	18-25	26-34	35+	Total

Total	2.1	4.9	4.7	2.6	3.2

Gender
Male	1.8	6.2	5.6	3.0	3.7
Female	2.3	3.6	3.9	2.3	2.7
Race/Ethnicity¹
White, non-Hispanic	2.3	6.3	5.8	2.9	3.7
Black, non-Hispanic	1.4	2.0	1.9	1.6	1.7
Hispanic	1.8	2.2	2.2	2.3	2.2
Population Density
Large metro	1.5	4.7	3.6	2.4	2.8
Small metro	2.3	6.1	5.6	3.8	4.2
Nonmetro	2.8	3.2	6.1	1.4	2.4
Region
Northeast	1.6	2.6	4.2	1.3	1.9
North Central	1.0	3.3	5.0	2.2	2.7
South	3.2	7.1	5.3	2.7	3.7
West	1.7	4.0	3.9	4.3	3.9
Adult Education²
Less than high school	N/A	5.9	7.8	1.6	3.2
High school graduate	N/A	4.2	4.1	2.4	2.9
Some college	N/A	5.7	5.3	4.1	4.7
College graduate	N/A	2.3	3.4	2.6	2.7
Current Employment³
Full-time	N/A	5.5	4.6	3.3	3.9
Part-time	N/A	4.8	5.5	1.0	2.9
Unemployed	N/A	4.3	7.9	*	6.5
Other⁴	N/A	3.7	3.7	1.7	2.1

Note: Due to improved procedures implemented in 1994, these estimates are not comparable with those presented in NHSDA Main Findings prior to 1994.

*Low precision; no estimate reported.
N/A: Not applicable.

Table 6.8 Percentage Reporting Nonmedical Use of Any Prescription-Type Analgesic in Their Lifetime, by Age Group and Demographic Characteristics: 1997


Demographic Characteristic	Age Group in Years				Total
Demographic Characteristic	12-17	18-25	26-34	35+	Total

Total	5.2	7.5	6.8	3.9	4.9

Gender
Male	5.1	8.3	7.8	4.4	5.6
Female	5.2	6.5	5.8	3.4	4.4
Race/Ethnicity¹
White, non-Hispanic	5.4	8.0	7.8	4.1	5.3
Black, non-Hispanic	5.4	5.4	4.7	2.2	3.6
Hispanic	4.7	5.8	4.2	3.2	4.1
Population Density
Large metro	4.9	8.1	6.9	3.9	5.1