Prescription Drugs That Are Commonly Abused

Prescription drug abuse has risen in recent years, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)--particularly among high school and college students. There is easy access to the medicine cabinet, the internet provides quick ordering and illegal or foreign purchases, and people think they're safer to use than street drugs ("FDA approved"). Prescriptions drugs that are prescribed as depressants, stimulants or painkillers are being abused nationwide, most commonly by the 18 to 25 age group.

Widespread Problem

• Since 2004, about 6 million Americans age 12 and over have abused prescription medication intended for therapeutic relief, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. The 2005 Monitoring the Future Study reports that the most frequently abused prescription drugs among high school teenagers are Vicodin and Oxycontin.

Opioids

• Drugs such as Oxycontin and Vicodin are addictive and are prescribed to manage pain. They tend to be the most abused drugs, even among senior citizens. They are considered prescription narcotics and are restricted medications when prescribed legally.

Stimulants

• Ritalin and Adderall, commonly used to treat symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, have also been abused for years by teenagers looking for a fast "buzz" and euphoria. After abusing these prescription drugs; however, some kids are hospitalized from overdoses. Abuse of these stimulants can be fatal.

Depressants

• Valium and Xanax, used to treat anxiety and calm the central nervous system are both commonly abused prescription depressants. When mixed with other depressants or opioids, the result can be deadly.

Risks

• Some drug overdoses can be quickly treated by medical professionals; others cannot. If contacted in time, some medical interventions may work--such as stomach pumping, charcoal, induced vomiting, urinating and/or defecating, an IV line to flush drug(s) out of the body or hemodialysis to clean the blood. However, if too much time has passed, some damage is irreversible, and the effects may be lifelong.