Dilaudid Statistics

Dilaudid is a type of medication prescribed to patients who suffer from extreme pain. It is also called hydromorphone hydrochloride and is an alternative to opioid analgesics. The drug may be administered in various ways including orally or intravenously. Dilaudid is a potent pain reliever, and it increases an individual's pain threshold by distorting pain perception. Since the drug is an opioid medication, there is a risk of dependence or addiction to the substance.

Facts about Dilaudid Statistics

According to the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, more teens become addicted to Dilaudid. The numbers continue to rise substantially after a decline for the past ten years. Moreover, most teens are hooked on drugs and alcohol. They believe these substances can help them cope with fatigue and stress.

Health care experts are becoming concerned about the increasing rate of drug abuse among teens. According to researchers, about 75 percent of high school students in the United States have tried addictive substances such as cocaine, marijuana, tobacco, dilaudid and alcohol. At present, over 46 percent of these teens use these illegal substances on a regular basis. Furthermore, one in three high school students are reported to be addicted to more than one of these substances.

Additional Details about Dilaudid Abuse

The U.S Department of Health Services presented some statistics concerning dilaudid abuse and addiction. In 2006, a survey revealed that about 20 million Americans that are aged 12 and above were previously illicit users of dilaudid. According to reports, 8.3 percent of the U.S population was also addicted to illicit drugs such as heroin, marijuana, and hallucinogens. Dilaudid was among the widely abused drug, and several people used it illegally or for non-medical purposes.

That same year, the DHS reported that 2.4 million of all current dilaudid users are 12 years and above while the percentage of illicit drug users in 2002 was only 2 million. Hallucinogens were also widely used in the past months by 1 million individuals, in 2006. This rate included 528,000 teens and adults who had used dilaudid.

There were 7 million teens and adults who used prescription-only psychotherapeutic medications for recreational purposes, in the past month. Moreover, 5.2 million of these people used dilaudid and other pain relievers leisurely. There was also an increase in the number of users, as compared to 4.7 million dilaudid users, in 2005.

In 2006, about 731,000 teens are current users of dilaudid. Among the young adults aged between 12 and 17 are illicit users of dilaudid. Nevertheless, the number of youths addicted to the drug dropped significantly from 2002 to 2006. This means that more youth no longer abuse specific drugs such as hallucinogens, pain relievers, prescription-type medication and tranquilizers. In fact, the rate of current dilaudid users among individuals aged 12 to 17 reduced from 8.2 to 6.7 percent, in 2006.

The DHS also noted that those who are aged 12 years and over had used dilaudid and other pain relievers recreationally in the past year. The reports also showed that 55.7 percent of these people claimed that they obtained dilaudid from a friend or family member for free. In 2006, about 10.2 million teens and adults were charged with DUI, or driving under the influence of illegal drugs. Among the drugs abused by these individuals were cocaine, dilaudid, heroin, and marijuana. In the 2007 survey, the prescriptions for drugs that contained dilaudid increased by 228 percent, from the years 1998 to 2006.

Essential Information about Dilaudid

Dilaudid is a type of prescription drug that can be quite addictive, and illicit users of the substance suffer from withdrawal symptoms because of the component of the drug. Those who deal with these symptoms may experience severe physical and psychological problems. There are instances when they go back to their habit of taking the drug just to avoid these disconcerting symptoms.

The FDA categorized the drug as a "schedule II" narcotic because of the highly addictive components. As with other opioids, it may be challenging to quit taking dilaudid because of the withdrawal symptoms. It is imperative that drug addicts find prompt medical attention and treatment for dilaudid addiction, so they can prevent relapses and serious health consequences caused by the drug. They may seek professional counseling or undergo cognitive therapy and behavioral modification, which can help them recover from dilaudid addiction. Moreover, the love and support of family members can motivate drug addicts to put an end to their addiction, so they can have a healthier and more enriching life.