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Prescription Drugs & Cold Medicines

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. Read the DrugFacts

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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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Monitoring the Future Study: Trends in Prevalence of Various Drugs for 8th Graders, 10th Graders, and 12th Graders; 2016 (in percent)*
Drug Time Period 8th Graders 10th Graders 12th Graders
Any Prescription Drug Past Year - - 12.00
Amphetamine Past Year 3.50 6.10 6.70
Adderall Past Year 1.50 4.20 6.20
Ritalin Past Year 0.80 1.20 [1.20]
Cough Medicine (non-prescription) Past Year 2.60 3.00 4.00
Narcotics other than Heroin Past Year - - 4.80
Vicodin Past Year 0.80 1.70 [2.90]
OxyContin Past Year 0.90 2.10 3.40
Tranquilizers Past Year 1.70 4.10 4.90
*Additional data (Past Month, Lifetime) available.

The use of any prescription drug includes use of any of the following: amphetamines, sedatives (barbiturates), narcotics other than heroin, or tranquilizers “…without a doctor telling you to use them.”

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National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Trends in Prevalence of Psychotherapeutics (Nonmedical Use) for Ages 12 or Older, Ages 12 to 17, Ages 18 to 25, and Ages 26 or Older; 2016 (in percent)*
Drug Time Period Ages 12 or Older Ages 12 to 17 Ages 18 to 25 Ages 26 or Older
Psychotherapeutics (Nonmedical Use) Lifetime - - - -
Past Year 6.90 5.30 14.50 5.90
Past Month 2.30 1.60 4.60 2.00

Related Videos

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Other Resources

Past information on many drugs of abuse is available on our Archives site.

Clinical Trials

Clinical trials are research studies in human volunteers conducted to answer specific health questions. Learn about the NIH-sponsored clinical trials available to you.

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Cite this article

NIDA. (). Prescription Drugs & Cold Medicines. Retrieved from https://www.drugabuse.gov/drugs-abuse/prescription-drugs-cold-medicines

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