Average Cost Of Prescription Drugs Sold On The Street

Americans reportedly spend more on prescription drugs than any other country in the world. Some people may try to get around steep drug prices by buying prescription drugs through the illicit market.

According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), more than 14 million people misused prescription medications in 2024. This includes prescription opioids, tranquilizers, or sedatives bought through legal and illicit channels. The average cost of prescription drugs resold on the street can vary, based on the type of drug, the strength, and market availability, among other factors.

Opioids (Opiates)

Opioids are a class of addictive painkillers. The cost of opiates bought on the street will depend on the type of opiate, the strength (dosage), and other factors.

Street prices for opioids will generally be cheaper than prescription drug prices without insurance, although this may depend on the formulation, type of drug, and strength.

Demerol (Meperidine)

Demerol, the brand name for meperidine, is a prescription opioid with an abuse potential that’s similar to morphine. The estimated street price for Demerol is $2 to $6 a dose.

Dilaudid (Hydromorphone)

Dilaudid is the brand name for hydromorphone, a semi-synthetic opioid drug. The cost of Dilaudid bought and sold on the street is $5 to $100 per dose, depending on the strength.

Fentanyl

Fentanyl is a synthetic and highly potent opioid drug that can be prescribed or illegally manufactured to be sold on the street.

The average street price of fentanyl is $25 to $40 per tablet, lozenge, or patch. People who purchase the powdered form of fentanyl can expect to pay up to $200 per gram. A single 100mcg-400 mcg dose can cost $1 to $5 in 2025.

Morphine

Morphine is a naturally occurring opiate drug. The street price of morphine can range from $5 to $30 in pill form or up to $80 for the liquid formulation.

Oxycodone (OxyContin)

OxyContin, or “oxy”, is a brand name for oxycodone, a prescription painkiller. The street price of oxycodone can range from $5 to $80, depending on the formulation and dosage/strength.

Five and ten-milligram tablets of Percocet are sold on the street at an average cost of $5 to $8, according to data from the Department of Justice.

Vicodin (Hydrocodone)

Vicodin (hydrocodone) is a semi-synthetic opioid drug used to treat pain. The average street price for Vicodin is about $1 per milligram.

Some estimates place the street cost of hydrocodone at $6 to $8 per tablet, depending on the formulation and strength.

Ultram (Tramadol)

Ultram is a brand name for the opioid drug, tramadol. The street price of tramadol (50mg) is $1 to $10 per tablet or approximately $0.10 to $0.14 per milligram (mg).

Benzodiazepines (Benzos)

Benzodiazepines, also known as “benzos”, are a class of central nervous system depressants commonly prescribed to treat anxiety, panic attacks, and insomnia.

The street prices for benzos can vary depending on the type of benzodiazepine drug, the dosage/strength, and local availability.

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Ativan (Lorazepam)

Ativan, also known as lorazepam, is a benzodiazepine medication that is typically prescribed to treat insomnia, seizures, and anxiety disorders.

The street price of Ativan is an estimated $4 per tablet. The price of Ativan may vary depending on the dosage amount.

Klonopin (Clonazepam)

Klonopin is a brand name for clonazepam, a common benzodiazepine drug used to treat anxiety disorders. The street price of Klonopin is about $2 to $10 per tablet, depending on the dosage.

Xanax (Alprazolam)

Xanax, the brand name for alprazolam, is one of the most commonly abused benzodiazepines. The street price of Xanax is $2 to $20 per tablet, depending on the strength.

Valium (Diazepam)

Valium, the brand name for diazepam, is a benzodiazepine drug prescribed to treat anxiety and seizures. The average street price of Valium is $2 to $15 per tablet, depending on the strength.

Amphetamines

Amphetamines are a class of prescription stimulants, or “uppers”, that are commonly used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy.

Adderall

Adderall is a prescription amphetamine used to treat ADHD and narcolepsy.  The street price of Adderall is $3 to $15 per pill or capsule, depending on the strength.

Ritalin

Ritalin is a brand name for methylphenidate. Some people who engage in Ritalin abuse refer to it as the “poor man’s cocaine” due to the jolt of energy felt after ingesting it.

The average street price of Ritalin is $1 to $20 per pill, depending on the strength and formulation.

Vyvanse

Vyvanse is a brand name for lisdexamfetamine, a prescription stimulant prescribed for ADHD and weight loss. The average street price of Vyvanse runs anywhere between $3 to $30 a pill.

Other Prescription Drugs

Any prescription drug can become a drug of abuse when taken in ways other than prescribed by a doctor. The cost of these drugs can vary.

Ambien

Ambien, a brand name for zolpidem, is a sedative-hypnotic typically prescribed as a sleep medication. The street price of Ambien ranges from $2 to $20 per pill.

Flexeril

Flexeril (cyclobenzaprine) is a muscle relaxant with a chemical structure similar to tricyclic antidepressants. The average street price of Flexeril is $1 to $10 per tablet.

Gabapentin

Gabapentin is a non-opioid pain reliever that can produce mild euphoric and sedative effects. The average street price of Gabapentin is $2 to $5 per pill, depending on the strength.

Trazodone

Trazodone is a serotonin modulator prescribed for depression and sleep. The average street value of trazodone varies drastically, as it is not a common drug of abuse.

The cost is typically between $1 to 15 per tablet, since it’s unlikely to cause effects typically sought by people who abuse prescription drugs, such as euphoria.

Wellbutrin (Bupropion)

Wellbutrin, also known as bupropion, is a prescription antidepressant. The average street price of Wellbutrin is $2 to $3 per 100-mg pill.

Zoloft (Sertraline)

Zoloft, also known as sertraline, is a prescription antidepressant that belongs to a class of medications known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).

Zoloft may be bought on the street for the unprescribed use of treating depression. The average street price for Zoloft is typically $1 to $2 per pill.

Zopiclone (Imovane)

Zopiclone, also sold as Imovane, is a sedative-hypnotic similar to Ambien (zolpidem). The street price of zopiclone can run up to $2 per tablet, depending on a range of influencing factors.

Why Do People Buy Prescription Drugs Through The Black Market?

More people are turning to illicit markets to purchase prescription drugs, creating a complex public health challenge that affects communities across all socioeconomic levels. One question loved ones of people with substance use disorders ask is: Why would someone choose dangerous, illegal sources over legitimate medical care? The answer is that this decision may be influenced by a variety of factors, including cost, drug effects, ease of getting a prescription, and prescription drug addiction. Understanding these motivations is crucial for developing effective prevention strategies and treatment approaches.

Financial Barriers To Legitimate Access

Cost and affordability are some of the major reasons people in the United States turn to the black market for prescription medications, according to some researchers. Even with insurance coverage, copays for specialty medications can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars per month, making them financially inaccessible for many people.

People facing chronic conditions requiring long-term medication may find themselves choosing between prescription drugs and other essential expenses like housing, food, or utilities.

Insurance And Coverage Gaps

Many people fall into coverage gaps where they earn too much for assistance programs but not enough to afford prescription costs. Insurance formulary restrictions, prior authorization requirements, and coverage denials can create barriers that push people toward illegal drugs. Some people discover that street prices for certain medications are lower than their copays, especially for generic drugs sold in bulk on illegal markets.

Economic Desperation And Medical Needs

Even when buying prescription drugs for legitimate reasons, such as pain relief, using a medication without a prescription can come with risks, such as developing an addiction or drug overdose. People with legitimate medical conditions may resort to street purchases when they cannot afford doctor visits, diagnostic tests, or ongoing medical monitoring required for prescription renewals.

Recreational And Euphoric Effects

Prescription drugs can sometimes be abused for side effects, such as euphoria, sedation, pain relief, or other stimulating effects that can produce a rush of energy. Opioid medications like OxyContin or Vicodin can produce intense feelings of euphoria and relaxation that some people find appealing for recreational use.

Stimulant medications prescribed for ADHD, such as Adderall or Ritalin, can create feelings of alertness, confidence, and energy that appeal to students, professionals, and people seeking a recreational high.

Self-Medication And Untreated Conditions

Many people turn to black market prescription drugs as a form of self-medication for untreated mental health conditions, chronic pain, or sleep disorders. Those facing anxiety might seek benzodiazepines such as Xanax or Ativan when they cannot access mental health care, while people with untreated ADHD might purchase stimulants to help with focus and productivity. This self-medication approach often develops when healthcare is inaccessible due to cost, wait times, or geographic barriers.

Tolerance And Escalating Needs

People who begin with legitimate prescriptions may develop tolerance over time, requiring higher doses than doctors are willing to prescribe. When medical providers reduce dosages or discontinue prescriptions due to safety concerns, people may turn to illegal sources to maintain their dosing levels. This is common with opioid medications, where physical dependence can develop even when medications are used as prescribed, leading to withdrawal symptoms when prescriptions are reduced or stopped.

Convenience And Accessibility

Some people choose black market sources because they offer greater convenience than traditional healthcare systems. Street dealers don’t require appointments, waiting periods, or medical evaluations, making drug acquisition faster and more straightforward. This appeals to people who want immediate relief from symptoms or those who prefer to avoid medical scrutiny of their drug use patterns.

Drug Purchasing Sizes: How Are Prescription Drugs Sold On The Street?

The illegal prescription drug market has developed distribution patterns that maintain pharmaceutical authenticity while accommodating illegal sales. Most prescription drugs are resold in their original form, whether as pills, tablets, liquid solutions, lozenges, patches, films, or powders, often keeping original packaging intact to establish credibility and allow buyers to verify dosage information for safety and effectiveness.

Common purchasing sizes for prescription drugs sold on the street:

• Single Doses: individual pills or tablets sold one at a time, common for expensive medications like high-dose opioids or when buyers have limited funds
• Pill Bottles: entire prescription bottles containing multiple doses, often sold when someone diverts their complete prescription or when larger quantities are stolen
• Drug Packages: original manufacturer packaging, such as blister packs or sample packets, particularly common with medications obtained from medical facilities
• Per Gram: powdered medications or crushed pills sold by weight, though this is less common due to the difficulty of verifying content and dosage
• Milliliters (mL): liquid formulations such as cough syrups containing codeine, liquid morphine, or other liquid medications measured by volume

The unit size for purchasing prescription drugs varies depending on availability, drug type, and buyer finances, with economic factors often limiting purchases to small quantities due to the high costs of diverted medications. Different drugs follow distinct sales patterns; for example, opioids are frequently sold individually due to high value, while less expensive medications might be sold in larger quantities.

What Factors Can Affect The Cost Of Prescription Drugs Sold On The Street?

The illegal prescription drug market operates much like any economic system, with prices fluctuating based on complex interactions between supply, demand, and external pressures. Much like prescription drugs acquired through a pharmacy, the street value of drugs can rise and fall over time depending on a wide range of factors.

Factors that can affect how much prescription drugs cost on the street include:

• Street Drug Supply and Demand: basic economic principles drive pricing, with scarce drugs commanding higher prices and abundant supplies leading to lower costs
• Ease of Acquisition: medications that are harder to obtain legally through prescriptions typically cost more on illegal markets
• Dosage/Strength: higher-dose formulations generally command premium prices due to their increased potency and effectiveness
• Behavioral Health Care Mental Health Care Affordability: when legitimate treatment is expensive or inaccessible, demand for street alternatives increases
• Average Price of Illicit Drugs in the Area: local market conditions and established pricing patterns influence what buyers expect to pay
• Drug Law Enforcement: increased police activity and prescription monitoring programs can reduce supply and drive up prices
• Availability of Services Such as Methadone and Buprenorphine Treatment: access to legal addiction treatment alternatives can reduce demand for street opioids
• Geographic Location (Canada, America, Europe): different countries and regions have varying prescription practices, law enforcement approaches, and healthcare systems that affect illegal markets

The prescription drug street market reflects broader healthcare, policy, and social issues within communities. Price fluctuations often indicate underlying problems such as inadequate access to legitimate medical care, insufficient addiction treatment resources, or ineffective prescription monitoring systems.

The Dangers Of Buying Prescription Drugs On The Street

Purchasing prescription drugs through illegal channels carries serious health risks that go far beyond the legal consequences. One of the biggest concerns is that street drugs are frequently counterfeit or contaminated with dangerous substances like fentanyl, which has been found in counterfeit pills made to look like legitimate medications including Xanax, Adderall, and oxycodone. Because these pills are indistinguishable from the real thing, a person can unknowingly consume a lethal dose without any warning. Using fentanyl test strips before consuming any street pill is a harm reduction measure that can save lives.

Beyond contamination, buying prescription drugs without medical supervision means there is no oversight of dosage, drug interactions, or underlying health conditions that could make certain medications dangerous. People who self-medicate with street-bought prescription drugs are also at a significantly higher risk of developing dependence and addiction, particularly with opioids and benzodiazepines.

What may start as an affordable alternative to expensive healthcare can quickly spiral into a serious substance use disorder that is far more costly to address in the long run.

How To Get Help For Prescription Drug Misuse

If prescription drug misuse has become a problem, professional help is available and recovery is possible. Many people who misuse prescription drugs do so initially out of financial necessity or untreated medical conditions, which is why effective treatment addresses both the addiction and the underlying issues that contributed to it. Treatment options for prescription drug misuse include medically supervised detox, inpatient and outpatient rehab, medication-assisted treatment, and dual diagnosis care for those dealing with co-occurring mental health conditions.

Reaching out for help is often the hardest part, but it is the most important step a person can take. A healthcare provider or addiction specialist can discuss your issues and provide a referral to a drug abuse treatment program that’s right for you.

Written by the Addiction Resource Editorial Staff