Most Abused Prescription Drugs

The abuse of prescription drugs is rampant, the demographics consists of kids starting from age 12 to adults who are 60 years and older. The most abused prescription drugs are either sedatives or mood enhancers. If you are wondering what is prescription drug abuse, well the answer is if someone takes drugs other than the manner prescribed by the physician or takes drugs which are prescribed for someone else it is referred to as prescription drug abuse. The history of prescription drug abuse is quite old going all the way back to the civil war. Soldiers who were given morphine injections to help deal with their pain from wounds, kept on using the injections even after the pain subsided. Back then there weren't many laws to regulate the prescription drug industry. Today there are several laws against illegal sale or procurement of prescription drugs yet the prescription drug addiction is widespread.

Categories of Most Abused Prescription Drugs

If you take a look at some of the most abused prescription drugs today you will find that painkillers and stimulants rank high in the list. Like most illegal drugs the prescription drugs are also categorized in two parts, 'uppers' and 'downers'. Uppers are which enhance the mood of the user and tend to make them feel active and full of energy like depression medication. Downers are prescription drugs which make the user feel more relaxed and induce a feeling of restfulness. If you are wondering what are the most abused prescription drugs, they can be further categorized into sectors like opiates, stimulants or depressants.

Opiates are generally the most abused form of prescription drugs and are sold illegally. They are considered to be some of the most addictive forms of prescription medicine. Opiates are drugs made from opium derivatives. Physicians generally prescribe them as painkillers and some signs of prescription drug abuse are irresponsible behavior and neglect of personal hygiene. Some of the side effects of these are constipation, lethargy and overdose may even lead to death.

Stimulants are generally prescribed to treat conditions like Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). People tend to abuse these prescription drugs because it tends to give them a feeling of euphoria. These drugs also increase the alertness and energy levels of the user. People who get addicted to stimulants experience depression, sleep disorders and other problems when they try to stop the medication. Abuse of stimulants can lead to serious health complications and heart failure.

Depressant are given to patients who have anxiety symptoms and have trouble sleeping. These medications target the neurotransmitters in the brain and slow down the brain activity. People get addicted to these prescription drugs as they bring upon a feeling of calmness and induce restful sleep. People who abuse these type of drugs generally tend to increase their dosage to get the desired results as they progress in their addiction.

List of Most Abused Prescription Drugs

There are different reasons why people abuse prescription drugs, some are just trying to experiment with drugs in their school or college days and come across prescription drugs. Some abuse drugs which are prescribed to them by physicians as they keep on taking them just to get a feeling of well-being. If you check the 10 most abused prescription drugs they will either be depressants, opiates or stimulants. Prescription drugs are second on the list of most abused drugs in America right after marijuana. Here is the most abused prescription drugs list

Opiates	Stimulants	Depressants
OxyContin	Dexedrine	Phenobarbital
Avinza	Desoxyn	Ativan
Vicodin	Ritalin	Librium
Demerol	Adderall	Valium
Codeine	Concerta	Xanax

If you review the most abused prescription drugs you will find that they are prescribed to treat anxiety, sleep disorders and psychological conditions.