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    Prescription Drugs -

    Comprehensive Information from the National Institute on Drug Abuse. https://teens.drugabuse.gov/drug-facts/prescription-drugs

    Prescription drug misuse has become a large public health problem, because misuse can lead to addiction, and even overdose deaths. For teens, it is a growing problem:

    • After marijuana and alcohol, prescription drugs are the most commonly misused substances by Americans age 14 and older.
    • Teens misuse prescription drugs for a number of reasons, such as to get high, to stop pain, or because they think it will help them with school work.
    • Many teens get prescription drugs they misuse from friends and relatives, sometimes without the person knowing.
    • Boys and girls tend to misuse some types of prescription drugs for different reasons. For example, boys are more likely to misuse prescription stimulants to get high, while girls tend to misuse them to stay alert or to lose weight.  

    Prescription and over-the-counter drugs are the most commonly misused substances by Americans age 14 and older, after marijuana and alcohol.

    For the most recent statistics on teen drug use, see results from NIDA’s Monitoring the Future study. 

    What happens to your body when you use prescription drugs?

    Prescription drugs can help with medical problems when used as directed. However, whether they are used properly or misused, there can be side effects: 

    • Using opioids like oxycodone and codeine can cause you to feel sleepy, sick to your stomach, and constipated. At higher doses, opioids can make it hard to breathe properly and can cause overdose and death.
    • Using stimulants like Adderall or Ritalin can make you feel paranoid (feeling like someone is going to harm you even though they aren’t). It also can cause your body temperature to get dangerously high and make your heart beat too fast. This is especially likely if stimulants are taken in large doses or in ways other than swallowing a pill.
    • Using depressants like barbiturates can cause slurred speech, shallow breathing, sleepiness, disorientation, and lack of coordination. People who misuse depressants regularly and then stop suddenly may experience seizures. At higher doses depressants can also cause overdose and death, especially when combined with alcohol.

    In addition, misusing over-the-counter drugs that contain DXM (usually cold and cough medicines) can also produce very dangerous effects. Find information on misuse of cough and cold medications. 

    Misusing any type of drug that causes changes in your mood, perceptions, and behavior can affect judgment and willingness to take risks—putting you at greater risk for HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).