Contemporary Clinical Opioid Use: Opportunities and Challenges William L. Lanier, MD, Evan D. Kharasch, MD, PhD Mayo Clinic Proceedings Volume 84, Issue 7, Pages 572-575 (July 2009) DOI: 10.4065/84.7.572 Copyright © 2009 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Terms and Conditions
FIGURE 1 Total US prescriptions dispensed annually for all opioid analgesics from 1998-2002. Adapted from the IMS Health, National Prescription Audit Plus.17 Mayo Clinic Proceedings 2009 84, 572-575DOI: (10.4065/84.7.572) Copyright © 2009 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Terms and Conditions
FIGURE 2 Annual numbers (in millions) of new nonmedical users of pain relievers who are 12 years or older, from 1970-2001. From the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2004.18 Mayo Clinic Proceedings 2009 84, 572-575DOI: (10.4065/84.7.572) Copyright © 2009 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Terms and Conditions
FIGURE 3 Prescription opioid analgesic deaths nationwide, from 2001-2005. Adapted from the National Drug Intelligence Center: National Prescription Drug Threat Assessment 2009.19 Mayo Clinic Proceedings 2009 84, 572-575DOI: (10.4065/84.7.572) Copyright © 2009 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Terms and Conditions