PRESCRIPTION DRUGS

ALSO KNOWN AS Opioids: Hillbilly heroin, oxy, OC, oxycotton, percs, happy pills, vikes Depressants: barbs, reds, red birds, phennies, tooies, yellows, yellow jackets; candy, downers, sleeping pills, tranks; A-minus, zombie pills Stimulants: Skippy, the smart drug, Vitamin R, bennies, black beauties, roses, hearts, speed, uppers

WHAT IS PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE Prescription drug abuse is when someone takes a medication that was prescribed for someone else or takes their own prescription in a way not intended by a doctor or for a different reason—like to get high When prescription drugs are abused, they can be addictive and put the person at risk for other harmful health effects, such as overdose (especially when taken along with other drugs or alcohol). And, abusing prescription drugs is illegal—and that includes sharing prescriptions with family members or friends.

GROWING PROBLEM AMONG TEENS -After marijuana and alcohol, prescription drugs are the most commonly abused substances by Americans age 14 and older. -Teens abuse prescription drugs for a number of reasons, such as to get high, to stop pain, or because they think it will help them with school work. -Most teens get prescription drugs they abuse from friends and relatives, sometimes without the person knowing. -Boys and girls tend to abuse some types of prescription drugs for different reasons. For example, boys are more likely to abuse prescription stimulants to get high, while girls tend to abuse them to stay alert or to lose weight.

COMMONLY ABUSED PRESCRIPTION DRUGS There are three kinds of prescription drugs that are commonly abused. Visit our separate Drug Facts pages to learn more about each of these classes of drugs: Opioids—painkillers like Vicodin, OxyContin, or codeine Depressants—like those used to relieve anxiety or help a person sleep, such as Valium or Xanax Stimulants—like those used for treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), such as Adderall and Ritalin

HOW ARE PRESCRIPTION DRUGS ABUSED? People abuse prescription drugs by taking medication in a way that is not intended, such as: -Taking someone else’s prescription medication. Even when someone takes another person’s medication for its intended purposes (such as to relieve pain, to stay awake, or to fall asleep) it is considered abuse. -Taking a prescription medication in a way other than prescribed. Taking your own prescription in a way that it is not meant to be taken is also abuse. This includes taking more of the medication than prescribed or changing its form—for example, breaking or crushing a pill or capsule and then snorting the powder. Taking a prescription medication to get high. Some types of prescription drugs also can produce pleasurable effects or “highs.” Taking the medication only for the purpose of getting high is considered prescription drug abuse.

EFFECTS OF ABUSING PRESCRIPTION DRUGS Prescription drugs can cause dangerous short- and long-term health problems when they are not used as directed or when they are taken by someone other than the person they were prescribed for. Abusing opioids like oxycodone and codeine can cause you to feel sleepy, sick to your stomach, and constipated. At higher doses, opioids can make it hard to breathe properly and can cause overdose and death. Abusing stimulants like Adderall or Ritalin can make you feel paranoid. It also can cause your body temperature to get dangerously high and make your heart beat too fast. This is especially likely if stimulants are taken in large doses or in ways other than swallowing a pill. Abusing depressants like barbiturates can cause slurred speech, shallow breathing, sleepiness, disorientation, and lack of coordination. People who abuse depressants regularly and then stop suddenly may experience seizures. At higher doses depressants can also cause overdose and death, especially when combined with alcohol.

ADDICTION Prescription drugs that effect the brain, including opioid painkillers, stimulants, and depressants, may cause physical dependence that can turn into addiction. Dependence happens because the brain and body adapt to having drugs in the system for a while. A person may need larger doses of the drug to get the same initial effects. This is known as “tolerance.” When drug use is stopped, withdrawal symptoms can occur.