NCJ Number
193693
Date Published
July 2001
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This report from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) examined the three classes of prescription drugs most commonly abused, the trends in prescription drug use, the prevention and detection of prescription drug abuse, and the treatment for prescription drug abuse addiction.
Abstract
The abuse of prescription drugs has caused a serious public health concern across the country, specifically among three classes of prescription drugs: opioids, typically prescribed to treat pain; CNS depressants, aiding in the treatment of anxiety and sleep disorders; and stimulants, prescribed to increase alertness, attention, and energy. This report attempted to provide information on the consequences of abusing these three commonly prescribed prescriptions and their affects on both the brain and body, as well the trends, prevention and detection, and treatment for prescription drug abuse. Several indicators, such as the 1999 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse suggested that prescription drug abuse was on the rise in the United States. The misuse of prescription drugs was most common among the elderly with the most dramatic increase having occurred among adolescents and young adults. Gender differences saw women as more likely than men to be prescribed an abusable prescription drug. Health care providers, pharmacists, and patients were seen as playing a significant role in the prevention and detection of prescription drug abuse. Once detected, research shows that addiction to any drug, illicit or prescribed, can be effectively treated. However, treatment must take into account the type of drug used and the individual’s needs. Treatment falls into two categories, behavioral and pharmacological. Behavioral treatment teaches people how to live without drugs and pharmacological treatments counter the effects of the drug on the brain and behavior. A combination of the two treatment methods is recognized as being potentially effective for treating drug addiction. Tables, graphs, glossary, and references