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®)
Statistics and Trends
| 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.
| 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.
Related Videos
Featured Publications
Related Resources
- Prescription Drugs poster
- Heads Up: Real News About Drugs and Your Body- Year 10-11 Compilation for Students
- Heads Up: Real News About Drugs and Your Body- Year 10-11 Compilation for Teachers
- Prescription Drugs of Abuse Chart
- Efforts of the National Institute on Drug Abuse to Prevent and Treat Prescription Drug Abuse (Testimony to Congress)
- NIDA for Teens: Prescription Drug Use
- NIDA for Teens: PEERx
Emerging Trends
Get more information on Emerging Trends, we will update this page with the latest research findings as they develop.
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Research Report
Prescription Drugs: Abuse and Addiction
Examines the non-medical use of prescription drugs-opioids, central nervous system depressants, and stimulants-describing adverse health effects of their use and the prevention and treatment of addiction.
Safe Disposal of Medicines
Featured Publication
Drugs, Brains, and Behavior - The Science of Addiction
As a result of scientific research, we know that addiction is a disease that affects both brain and behavior.
