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
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Drug | Time Period | 8th-Graders | 10th-Graders | 12th-Graders |
---|---|---|---|---|
Any Prescription Drug | Past Year | – | – | 15.00 |
Amphetamine | Past Year | 2.60 | 5.90 | 8.70 |
Adderall | Past Year | 1.80 | 4.40 | 7.40 |
Ritalin | Past Year | 1.10 | 1.80 | 2.30 |
Narcotics other than Heroin | Past Year | – | – | 7.10 |
Vicodin | Past Year | 1.40 | 4.60 | [5.30] |
OxyContin | Past Year | 2.00 | 3.40 | 3.60 |
Tranquilizers | Past Year | 1.80 | 3.70 | 4.60 |
*Additional data (Past Month, Lifetime) available.
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Drug | Time Period | Ages 12 or Older | Ages 12 to 17 | Ages 18 to 25 | Ages 26 or Older |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Psychotherapeutics (Nonmedical Use) | Lifetime | [20.90] | 10.00 | 28.10 | [21.00] |
Past Year | [6.40] | 6.60 | [13.70] | [5.10] | |
Past Month | 2.60 | 2.80 | 5.30 | 2.10 |