First time Quote by Sam Quinones
““Worldwide pharmaceutical opiate production rose steadily but it was the United States...that now consumed 83 percent of the world's oxycodone and fully 99 percent of the world's hydrocodone... "Gram for gram...people in the United States consume more narcotic medication than any other nation worldwide." Drugs containing hydrocodone became the most prescribed drugs in America (136 million prescriptions a year...), and opiate painkillers are the most prescribed class of drugs... Between 2002 and 2011, 25 million Americans used prescription pills nonmedically. Amid all this, opiate abusers began to get younger...2.4 million people twelve years or older had used a prescription pail reliever nonmedically for the first time within the previous year- more than the estimated numbers using marijuana for the first time. The pain-pill abuser's average age was twenty-two.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Dreamland: The True Tale of America's Opiate Epidemic by Sam Quinones, 2015
The U.S. dominates global consumption of prescription opioids, leading to widespread misuse and a younger demographic of abusers.
In simple terms: America uses most of the world’s prescription painkillers, causing a crisis.
Key Takeaway
Address prescribing practices and educate youth.
Themes
public health
addiction
policy
youth
pharmaceuticals
Mood
concerned
urgent
reflective
Type
statistical
analytical
cautionary
When to use this quote
- healthcare policy reform
- school education programs
- community outreach
- pain management alternatives
Key Concepts
opioid epidemic
prescription drug misuse
market dynamics
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we balance legitimate pain relief with abuse prevention?
- What role should pharma companies play in reducing misuse?
A Different Perspective
Efforts to curb prescribing may push users toward illicit drugs.
