Adolescents Most Likely To Misuse Prescription Drugs at Age 16

A recent Michigan State University study found that adolescents are most likely to misuse prescription painkillers around age 16, rather than during the last year of high-school or college as previously believed.

Researchers analyzed data from the 2004 through 2008 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health to identify when adolescents are most likely to start using prescription painkillers to get high. They found that 1 in 60 young people between ages 12 and 21 starts misusing these drugs each year. Peak risk occurs at age 16 with an accelerated risk between ages 13 and 14.

The results demonstrate the need to understand when the first onset of misuse occurs to increase the effectiveness of prevention efforts. Researchers suggest strengthening clinician prescribing guidelines and introducing earlier school-based prevention programs.