Advisory: Prescription Stimulant Misuse Among Youth and Young Adults

SAMHSA ADVISORY: Prescription Stimulant Misuse Among Youth and Young Adults

The misuse of prescription pain relievers, tranquilizers, sedatives, and stimulants among youth and young adults aged 12 to 25 is a major public health issue in the United States. The prevalence of prescription drug misuse is highest among young adults between the ages of 18 and 25; over 11 percent report the misuse of prescription drugs in the past year. Similarly, over 4 percent of youth between the ages of 12 and 17 report prescription drug misuse in the past year. Although the overall prevalence of prescription drug misuse among youth and young adults has declined in recent years, its relatively high rate among young adults, in particular, is concerning. In this age category, the rates of prescription stimulant misuse are higher than the rates of misuse for other categories of prescription medications.

Read more by downloading the full report from SAMHSA’s website HERE.