Reduce the proportion of people who misused a prescription pain reliever in the past year — SU‑19 Data Methodology and Measurement

About the National Data

Data

Baseline: 3.6 percent of persons aged 12 years and over reported misuse of a prescription pain reliever in the past 12 months in 2018

Target: 3.3 percent

Numerator
Number of persons aged 12 years and over reporting misuse of prescription pain relievers in the past 12 months.
Denominator
Number of persons aged 12 years and over.
Target-setting method
Minimal statistical significance
Target-setting method details
Minimal statistical significance, assuming the same standard error for the target as for the baseline.
Target-setting method justification
Trend data were evaluated for this objective, but it was not possible to project a target because the Healthy People 2030 Workgroup Subject Matter Experts expected a slowdown in progress. The standard error was used to calculate a target based on minimal statistical significance, assuming the same standard error for the target as for the baseline. This method was used because it was a statistically significant improvement from the baseline.

Methodology

Questions used to obtain the national baseline data

(For additional information, please visit the data source page linked above.)

Please think about the first time you ever used [insert prescription pain reliever type] in a way a doctor did not direct you to use it.

How old were you when you first used [insert prescription pain reliever type] in a way a doctor did not direct you to use it? [Month/Year]

Methodology notes

Misuse of prescription pain relievers is defined as use in any way not directed by a doctor, including use without a prescription of one's own; use in greater amounts, more often, or longer than told; or use in any other way not directed by a doctor. Prescription pain relievers do not include over-the-counter drugs.

History

Comparable HP2020 objective
Retained, which includes core objectives that are continuing from Healthy People 2020 with no change in measurement.