NCJ Number
235674
Date Published
September 2010
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This Criminal Justice Data Brief from the Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet presents information on the problem of prescription drug abuse in the State of Kentucky.
Abstract
This data brief presents the findings from Kentucky's All Scheduled Prescription Electronic Reporting (KASPER) system which quantifies the use of prescription drugs in the State. For the 3-year period from 2006 through 2008, data from KASPER indicate that 96 of the 120 counties in the State experienced an increase in the rate of prescriptions dispensed for controlled substances. In addition, the data showed that several counties had rates of substance prescriptions dispensed per resident that were greater than the State average of 2.2 controlled substance prescriptions per resident. This data brief also includes a description of KASPER; a discussion of how drug abusers obtain prescription drugs; a look at the most commonly abused prescription drugs (opioids, central nervous system depressants, and stimulants); a look at treatment options available to drug users; data on drug overdose deaths in the State related to prescription drug abuse; and a discussion of prescription drug related legislation recently signed into law by the Governor of Kentucky.