MISUSE OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS IS A GROWING PROBLEM

According to a press release from the Substance Abuse and Mental Heath
Services Administration, the number of admissions to substance abuse
treatment for narcotic pain medication and methamphetamine/amphetamine
increased sharply from 2004-2005.

Numbers decreased over the same period for cocaine and heroin abuse,
according to the administration.

Five substances accounted for 95 percent of all substance abuse
treatment admissions in 2005-2006: alcohol, opiates, primarily heroin,
marijuana/hashish, cocaine and stimulants like methamphetamine.

"We continue to see disturbing signs that misuse of prescription drugs
is a growing problem," said Terry Cline, the administration's
administrator.

The total number of people using meth is small relative to other
illicit drugs, with approximately 1.3 million persons age 12 or older
reporting use of the drugn in 2005 according to the National Survey on
Drug use and Health.

But the number of those seeking treatment for meth increased 12
percent between 2004 and 2005. From 1995 to 2005 there was a 172
percent increase in the number of admissions for methamphetamine and
proportion of treatment admissions for meth rose from 4 to 9 percent.

People seeking treatment for prescription narcotic pain medication
increased 9 percent between 2004 and 2005. Medication abused by those
seeking treatment included codeine, hydrocodone, hydromorphone,
meperidine, morphine, opium, oxycodone, and more. From 1995 to 2005
the number of admissions for these drugs increased more than 300 percent.