Prescription drug abuse involves using a prescribed medication in a way that was not intended by the prescriber.  It may involve borrowing a pain pill from a family member to crushing and snorting pills to get high. The abuse of certain prescription drugs is a serious health issue for teens and adults.  Drug poisoning is second only to motor vehicle crashes as a cause of death from accidental injury in the United States.

Consider these facts:

• Nearly in one in five teens has used a prescription drug to get high.
  
• Young adults aged 18-25 are the most common users of prescription medication for nonmedical use.
• Teens report getting drugs from their homes, relatives and friends.
  

Some of the most abused prescription drugs include:

• Painkillers called opioids - brand names such as Vicodin, Percocet, OxyContin
  Symptoms of abuse: confusion, decreased respiration, depression, pinpoint pupils, low blood pressure.

• Stimulants - brand names such as Ritalin and Adderall
  Symptoms of abuse: agitation, irritability, insomnia, high blood pressure, weight loss.

• Sedatives -  brand names such as Valium, Xanax, Ativan
  Symptoms of abuse: drowsiness, unsteady gait, poor judgement (similar symptoms as alcohol abuse).  These drugs are most often abused in conjunction with other drugs.  For example, a methamphetamine user may use this type of drug to come down from over-stimulation.

Other symptoms a person may be abusing a prescription drug:

• Appearing to be high or sedated
• "Losing" prescriptions so that more must be written
• Taking more than what is prescribed
  
• Seeking prescriptions from more than one prescriber
• Stealing, forging or selling prescriptions

Over the counter medicines are also at risk of being abused by teens.  In Washoe County nearly 18% of high school students say they have used an over the counter drug to get high.

Watch our latest prescription drug video here.

If you have prescription drugs you'd like to get rid of, click here to read about the Prescription Drug Round Up.

Resources

All About Prescription Drugs (Medline Plus)
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/prescriptiondrugabuse.html

FDA - Combatting Misuse and Abuse of Prescription Drugs
http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm220112.htm

Getting High on Prescription Drugs and Over-the-Counter
Drugs is Dangerous (download PDF)

National Council on Patient Information and Education (NCPIE)
http://www.talkaboutrx.org

Parents: The Anti-Drug
http://www.theantidrug.com/drug-information/otc-prescription-drug-abuse/prescription-drug-rx-abuse/painkillers.aspx

Prescription Drug Abuse
http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/prescription-drugs

Prescription Painkiller Overdoses
http://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/PainkillerOverdoses/index.html

RX Danger Zones
http://www.theantidrug.com/drug-information/otc-prescription-drug-abuse/prescription-drug-dangers/rx-danger-zones.aspx

(If you're a parent, click here to visit our Tips for Parents page.)

YOUTH

Above the Influence
http://www.abovetheinfluence.com/

NIDA for Teens
http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_rx1.php

Students Against Destructive Decisions
http://www.sadd.org/

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