Open Care Medical Center - Orange County's Leading Multispeciality Clinic

Opioid dependence is more common than you may think. Opioid dependence is not predictable—it is a reaction that occurs in people who, for reasons that are not completely understood, are biologically and psychosocially vulnerable. Men and women of all ages, races, ethnic groups, and educational levels can become dependent on opioids.

According to the 2003 National Survey on Drug Use and Health:

* 4.7 million people ages 12 and older misused pain relievers in 2003
* In 2001, almost 2.5 million people used pain relievers nonmedically (ie, for recreational purposes) for the first time. This is a 335% increase from 1990, when 573,000 reported using pain relievers nonmedically

As of 2003, roughly 3.7 million Americans ages 12 and older reported having tried heroin at least once in their lives. More than 400,000 people reported that they had used heroin within the last year.

Over the last 2 decades, inexpensive, high-purity heroin has become more available. Rather than injecting, many new users are smoking or snorting heroin, with the misperception that these routes are less addictive. Also, use is growing among younger adults and in many suburban communities.

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