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.

本统计数据基于一项调查，展示了1999年至2012年间，美国20岁及以上成年人过去30天内使用处方阿片类镇痛药的百分比，按药物强度分类。在2007-2010年期间，此类成年镇痛药使用者中，有26.5%的人使用了比吗啡强度更低的阿片类镇痛药。这些药物通常用于手术、受伤或某些健康状况（如癌症）后的疼痛治疗。随着销售和死亡人数的增加，与该药物相关的依赖性和死亡问题已在该国成为一个棘手的问题。