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Prescription Drugs

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

High School and Youth Trends (DrugFacts)

Revised December 2012.
Describes trends in high school and youth drug abuse and addiction, with an emphasis on marijuana, cigarettes, prescription drugs, alcohol and ecstasy. En Español

Nationwide Trends (DrugFacts)

Published April 2011. Revised December 2012.
Examines nationwide trends in drug abuse and addiction among youth, describing lifetime, past year and past month use for alcohol, tobacco, illicit drugs, and prescription drugs. En Español

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Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A Research-Based Guide (Third Edition)

Published October 1999. Revised December 2012.
Presents research-based principles of addiction treatment for a variety of drugs, including nicotine, alcohol, and illicit and prescription drugs, that can inform drug treatment programs and services. En Español

After Cannabis, Nonmedical use of the Prescriptions and Over-the-Counter Medications Account for Most of the Commonly Abused Drugs in 12th Graders (in the past year)

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.

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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.

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Prescription Drugs: Abuse and Addiction (Research Reports)

Published July 2001. Revised October 2011.
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. En Español

Lessons from Prevention Research (DrugFacts)

Published February 2004. Revised August 2011.
Describes principles important to consider when developing drug abuse prevention programs and discusses issues relevant for family, school, and community settings. En Español

Drug-Related Hospital Emergency Room Visits (DrugFacts)

Revised May 2011.
Provides national estimates on drug-related visits to hospital emergency departments and makes comparisons with previous years’ data. Discusses illicit drugs, alcohol and other drugs, and prescription drugs. En Español

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