Prescription Drugs

What is Prescription Drug Abuse:

Some medications have psychoactive (mind-altering) properties and, because of that, are sometimes abused—that is, taken for reasons or in ways or amounts not intended by a doctor, or taken by someone other than the person for whom they are prescribed. In fact, prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs are, after marijuana (and alcohol), the most commonly abused substances by Americans 14 and older. Learn more

Commonly Abused Drugs:

Commonly abused classes of prescription drugs include opioids (for pain), central nervous system (CNS) depressants (for anxiety and sleep disorders), and stimulants (for ADHD and narcolepsy).

Opioids include:

Fentanyl (Duragesic®)
Hydrocodone (Vicodin®)
Oxycodone (OxyContin®)
Oxymorphone (Opana®)
Propoxyphene (Darvon®)
Hydromorphone (Dilaudid®)
Meperidine (Demerol®)
Diphenoxylate (Lomotil®)

Central nervous system depressants include:

Pentobarbital sodium (Nembutal®)
Diazepam (Valium®)
Alprazolam (Xanax®)

Stimulants include:

Dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine®)
Methylphenidate (Ritalin® and Concerta®)
Amphetamines (Adderall®)

Street Names

oxy, cotton, blue, 40, 80 (OxyContin®)

Effects

Long-term use of opioids or central nervous system depressants can lead to physical dependence and addiction. Opioids can produce drowsiness, constipation and, depending on amount taken, can depress breathing. Central nervous system depressants slow down brain function; if combined with other medications that cause drowsiness or with alcohol, heart rate and respiration can slow down dangerously. Taken repeatedly or in high doses, stimulants can cause anxiety, paranoia, dangerously high body temperatures, irregular heartbeat, or seizures.

Statistics and Trends

2012 Monitoring the Future (MTF) Study: for 8th-Graders, 10th-Graders, and 12th-Graders (in percent)*
Drug	Time Period	8th- Graders	10th- Graders	12th- Graders
Narcotics other than Heroin	Lifetime	-	-	12.2
	Past Year	-	-	7.9
	Past Month	-	-	[3.0]
Amphetamine	Lifetime	4.5	8.9	12.0
	Past Year	2.9	6.5	7.9
	Past Month	1.3	2.8	3.3

* Data in brackets indicate statistically significant change from the previous year.

Previous MTF Data

National Survey of Drug Use and Health
for Ages 12 and Older

2008-2011 (in percent)*
Drug	Time Period	Ages 12 or Older	Ages 12-17	Ages 18-25	Ages 26 or Older
Psychotherapeutics (Nonmedical Use)	Lifetime	19.9	10.1	[27.3]	19.8
	Past Year	[5.7]	7.0	[12.7]	4.3
	Past Month	[2.4]	2.8	[5.0]	1.9

* Data in brackets indicate statistically significant change from the previous year.

Previous NSDUH Data

Related Publications

Prescription and Over-the-Counter Medications (DrugFacts)

Published June 2009. Revised May 2013.
Provides an overview of commonly abused prescription drugs—opioids, central nervous system depressants, and stimulants—and explains how they affect the brain, treatments available, and reported use. En Español

Prescription Drug Abuse (Topics in Brief)

Revised December 2011.
Provides a brief overview of the non-medical use of prescription drugs, examining prevalence, health risks associated with use, treatment options, and research underway on the topic.

Commonly Abused Prescription Drugs Chart

Published September 2002. Revised October 2011.
Offers a list prescription drugs commonly abused, including depressants, opioids and morphine derivatives, and stimulants, and provides their common and street names, how they are generally administered, and their potential health effects.