Prescription Drug Misuse Abuse
Prescription Drug Misuse Abuse
Prescription Drug Misuse & Abuse

For alcohol and illicit drug abuse, visit our Underage Drinking & Illicit Drug Abuse injury topic page.
Definition: The misuse and abuse of prescription medications involves obtaining and taking these drugs without a prescription and for a nonmedical purpose. Teens and young adults are at risk of abusing prescription medications because they are widely available, free or inexpensive, and falsely believed to be safer than illicit drugs.
Magnitude of the Problem: Prescription drug use increased sharply from 1997 to 2007, and the abuse of these drugs is now the U.S.’s fastest growing drug problem (Executive Office of the President, Epidemic: Responding to America’s Prescription Drug Abuse Crisis, 2011).
- The 2011 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance questionnaire found that almost 21% of high school students reported taking a prescription drug without a prescription at least once in their lifetime.
- According to the Archives of Internal Medicine (2011;171(11):1034-1036),more than three-quarters of youth and young adults ages 18–25 received painkillers only from nonmedical sources compared with 52% of those older than age 50.
- More teens abuse prescription drugs than cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine (National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence’s Prescription Drugs webpage).
Prevention: Strategies to reduce prescription medication abuse among youth include:
- Educating parents and caregivers about the importance of keeping prescription medications locked up;
- Encouraging parents and caregivers to talk with teens about the dangers of misusing and abusing prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications;
- Educating the public about how to properly dispose of old or unneeded medications;
- Training health care providers to screen patients for past or current substance use and to monitor patients’ use of prescribed medications; and
- Understanding the role of prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs) in reducing prescription medication misuse/abuse and working with PDMPs to increase their effectiveness.
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Useful Publications
- Identifying and Selecting Evidence-Based Interventions for Substance Abuse Prevention | SAMHSA Jan 2017
- Principles of Adolescent Substance Use Disorder Treatment: A Research-Based Guide | NIDA Feb 2014
- "Out of Reach" Toolkit about Teen Medicine Abuse Nov 2013
- PARENT TALK KIT: Tips for Talking and What to Say to Prevent Drug and Alcohol Abuse Nov 2013
- [Brochure] Getting High on Prescription and Over-the-Counter Drugs Is Dangerous: A Guide to Keeping Your Teenager Safe in a Chan Nov 2013
- Did Your State Make the Grade? New Report Card on Prescription Drug Abuse Policies Oct 2013
- Results from the 2012 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) Sep 2013
- Prescription Painkiller Overdoses | CDC Vital Signs Jun 2013
- SAMHSA: National Prevention Week 2013 Participant Toolkit May 2013
- The 2012 Partnership Attitude Tracking Study Apr 2013
- Sharp Rise in Emergency Department Visits Involving ADHD Medications Feb 2013
- Prescription Drug Overdose: State Laws | CDC Jul 2012
- Preventing Teen Abuse of Prescription Drugs Fact Sheet from Drugfree.org May 2012
- [Brochure] Talking to Your Kids About Prescription Drug Abuse: Not Worth the Risk (for Parents) Jan 2012