Substance abuse facts

Drug facts

The 10 most commonly abused drugs:

1. Alcohol
2. Tobacco
3. Cannabinoids – marijuana, hashish
4. Opioids – Heroin, Opium
5. Stimulants – Cocaine, Amphetamine, Methamphetamine
6. Club drugs – MDMA, GHB, Rohypnol
7. Dissociate drugs – Ketamin, Salvia, Dextromethorphan
8. Hallucinogens - LSD, Mescaline (peyote, buttons), psilocybin (mushrooms)
9. Other Compounds –anabolic steroids, inhalants (solvents- paint thinners, glues, butane, whippets)
10. Prescription Medications – CNS Depressants, Stimulants, Opioid Pain Relievers

Prescription and over-the-counter medications

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.

The classes of prescription drugs most commonly abused are:

• Opioid pain relievers, such as Vicodin or Oxycontin
• Stimulants for treating Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), such as Adderall, Concerta, or Ritalin
• Central nervous system (CNS) depressants for relieving anxiety, such as Valium or Xanax.
• The most commonly abused OTC drugs are cough and cold remedies containing dextromethorphan.

People often think that prescription and OTC drugs are safer than illicit drugs, but that’s only true when they are taken exactly as prescribed and for the purpose intended. When abused, prescription and OTC drugs can be addictive and put abusers at risk for other adverse health effects, including overdose—especially when taken along with other drugs or alcohol.

How are prescription drugs abused?

Prescription and OTC drugs may be abused in one or more of the following ways:

• Taking a medication that has been prescribed for somebody else. Unaware of the dangers of sharing medications, people often unknowingly contribute to this form of abuse by sharing their unused pain relievers with their family members. 

• Taking a drug in a higher quantity or in another manner than prescribed. Most prescription drugs are dispensed orally in tablets, but abusers sometimes crush the tablets and snort or inject the powder. This hastens the entry of the drug into the bloodstream and the brain and amplifies its effects.

• Taking a drug for another purpose than prescribed. All of the drug types mentioned can produce pleasurable effects at sufficient quantities, so taking them for the purpose of getting high is one of the main reasons people abuse them.

In 2010, approximately 16 million Americans reported using a prescription drug for nonmedical reasons in the past year.

Commonly abused prescription drugs

Medications can be effective when they are used properly, but some can be addictive and dangerous when abused.

What types of prescription drugs are abused? Three types of drugs are abused most often:

1. Opioids - prescribed for pain relief:
• Opioids and Morphine Derivatives:
• Codeine
• Morphine
• Methadone
• Fentanyl and analogs:
• Other Opioid pain relievers: Tylox, Oxycontin, Percodan, Percocet
• Oxycodone HCL
• Hydrocodone
• Hydromorphone
• Oxymorphone


2. CNS depressants - barbiturates and benzodiazepines prescribed for anxiety or sleep problems (often referred to as sedatives or tranquilizers)


3. Stimulants - prescribed for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), the sleep disorder narcolepsy, or obesity:
• Amphetamines: Dexedrine, Adderall
• Methylphenidate: Concerta, Ritalin
• Other Compounds:
  Dextromethorphan: DXM - found in some cough and cold medications