Next, we will discuss national statistics. Substance Use Disorders are a growing public health concern in the United States. Rising rates of SUDs are likely related to the nationwide increase in the use of prescription opioid pain relievers or OPR’s.               

National sales of opioid pain relievers quadrupled between 1999 and 2014, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).  In addition, there is a trend toward the prescribing of opioid pain relievers that are stronger than morphine. For example, in 1999, only 17% of opioid users were using OPRs stronger than morphine, but in 2012, this number had risen to 37%.