U.S. adults using prescription opioid analgesics in past month by strength 1999-2012
This statistic is based on a survey and displays the percentage of U.S. adults over aged 20 years and over that used prescription opioid analgesics in the past 30 days in periods between 1999 and 2012, by medication strength. In the period 2007-2010, 26.5 percent of such adult analgesic users used opioid analgesics that were weaker than morphine. These medications are used as pain treatments after surgery, injury, or certain health conditions such as cancer. Dependence and deaths related to this drug have become a problem in the country as sales and deaths increase.