What is the Scope of Prescription Drug Abuse Today?

Prescription drug abuse occurs when either a patient or a non-patient consumes a pharmaceutical drug in a way that differs from how that drug was prescribed.

Depressed woman is visiting a doctor

Prescription drugs are intended to help patients address unhealthy or harmful physical or mental conditions. However, some prescription drugs are addictive, leading patients and non-patients alike to experiment with them for their mind-altering effects. What is the scope of prescription drug abuse today, and how does this type of drug experimentation affect people?

What are Addictive Prescription Drugs?

An addictive prescription drug is defined as any pharmaceutical substance that can be habit-forming and can cause the individual to develop a physical or psychological urge to continue using the drug. Many prescription drugs are not addictive at all, but some are, including some mental health drugs and pain relief pills.

Examples of Addictive Prescription Drugs

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) identifies prescription drug abuse as:1

  • The consumption of a prescription drug in a manner other than prescribed.
  • Taking a prescription drug in pursuit of a high or some other euphoric effect or sensation.
  • Consuming someone else’s prescription, i.e., taking a prescription drug despite not having a prescription for it.

As one can see, both patients who have legitimate prescriptions and people who don’t have prescriptions can misuse and abuse prescription drugs, as anyone who takes such medicines for recreational or mind-altering purposes is misusing them.

Any drug can be misused, but the most commonly misused prescription drugs include:

  • Opioid painkillers (OxyContin, Vicodin, Percocet, Tramadol, and Codeine)
  • Central nervous system depressants (tranquilizers, sedatives, and hypnotics)
  • Prescription stimulants (Adderall, Ritalin, Concerta, Kapvay, Strattera, Intuniv, and Dexedrine)

There are many name brands and chemical arrangements of prescription drugs that have the potential to be addictive, but most Americans who are hooked on a prescription drug are hooked on a painkiller, a depressant, or a stimulant.

What are the Effects of Prescription Drug Abuse?

Dizzy man on a street

The effects of misusing prescription drugs are almost as varied as the total number of prescription drugs that can be misused. Each drug will have its side effects, affecting every user differently. However, some of the most commonly reported signs and side effects of experimenting with prescription drugs include:2

  • Anxiety
  • Paranoia
  • Dizziness
  • Agitation
  • Drowsiness
  • Constipation
  • Feeling high
  • Slurred speech
  • Reduced appetite
  • Poor coordination
  • Unsteady walking
  • Irregular heartbeat
  • High blood pressure
  • Slowed breathing rate
  • High body temperature
  • Problems with memory
  • Confusion, feeling in a daze
  • Depression, apathy, and lethargy
  • Increased sensitivity to physical pain
  • Sleepiness and dizziness, disoriented
  • Nausea, vomiting, upset stomach, and dry mouth
  • Itching and sweating, uncomfortable skin sensations
  • Low levels of testosterone that can result in lower sex drive, energy, and overall strength
  • Tolerance (this means the user will need to take more and more of the drug each time they use it to get high)
  • Physical dependence on the drug, meaning the user will experience withdrawal symptoms if they stop using the drug

The above are just some of the physical signs and side effects of experimenting with prescription drugs. There are also behavioral signs and side effects, including:

  • Sleeping less or more
  • Making poor decisions
  • Acting unusually energetic or lethargic
  • Forging, stealing, or selling prescriptions
  • Taking a higher dose than prescribed in pursuit of a high
  • Being hostile or experiencing mood swings that seem to come out of nowhere
  • Requesting early prescription refills or attempting to obtain prescriptions from more than one prescriber (doctor shopping)

Prescription Drug Overdoses

The most serious effect of experimenting with prescription drugs is an overdose. NIDA reported the following for recent prescription drug overdoses:3

  • In 2021, 16,706 people died in the U.S. from overdoses on prescription opioids.

  • In that same year, 12,499 people died in the U.S. from benzodiazepines (a type of prescription drug).

  • Also, in that same year, 5,859 people in the U.S. died from overdoses on antidepressant prescription drugs.

This is by no means a complete list of all prescription overdose deaths in 2021, but it clearly shows the scope of the problem just by referencing deaths caused by prescription opioids, benzodiazepines, and antidepressants. Summarized: tens of thousands of Americans die from overdoses on prescription drugs each year.

The Scope of Prescription Drug Use Today

The scope of prescription drug abuse is well documented. According to NIDA research:4

  • About 5.1% of the U.S. population over 12 (14.3 million people) abuse prescription psychotherapeutic drugs at least once per year.

  • Approximately 1.3% of that same age group (3.7 million) abuse prescription stimulants each year.

  • For prescription tranquilizers, about 1.7% (4.9 million) abuse that type of drug each year.

  • At least 1.4% (3.9 million people) abuse benzodiazepines each year.

  • Another 3.1% (8.7 million people) abuse prescription pain relievers annually.

  • Combined, over 30 million Americans abuse prescription drugs every year.

Young man in rehab, prescription drugs addiction problem

The Need for Prescription Drug Addiction Treatment

Prescription drug addiction is a serious health crisis. Even though prescription drugs are made with the intent to help patients treat a health condition, they can very often cause harm. Millions of Americans are harmed by such drugs each year, and relatively few of them get the help that they need, even though help is available. If you know someone who is misusing prescription drugs and cannot stop on their own, please help them find and enter a qualified residential drug treatment center as soon as possible.

Sources Cited:


  1. NIDA. “Misuse of Prescription Drugs Research Report.” National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2020. nida.nih.gov ↩︎

  2. Mayo. “Prescription Drug Abuse.” Mayo Clinic, 2023. mayoclinic.org ↩︎

  3. NIDA. “Drug Overdose Death Rates.” National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2023. nida.nih.gov ↩︎

  4. NIDA. “What is the scope of prescription drug misuse in the United States?” National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2023. nida.nih.gov ↩︎


Ren

After working in addiction treatment for several years, Ren now travels the country, studying drug trends and writing about addiction in our society. Ren is focused on using his skill as an author and counselor to promote recovery and effective …
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