Struggle to Maintain Accurate Data on Opioid Abuse Prevalence
Nonmedical use of opioids (such as Vicodin, Percoset, and OxyContin) has become a major public health concern due to increases in treatment admissions, overdoses, and deaths. Data collected from high school seniors between 2009 and 2013 showed that 8.3 percent self-reported past-year nonmedical opioid use. Data have also shown a link from nonprescription opioid abuse…