Prescription drug abuse occurs when someone takes a medical drug that was not prescribed for them or they take it in a different manner than it was supposed to be taken. Most people who abuse a prescription drug take more of the drug than a person who takes it for medical purposes. Abusers build up tolerances to most drugs, meaning that it takes more and more of a drug to produce the same effect. After a while, the abuser may be taking much larger doses than normal. And a person abusing a drug may change its form. For example, crushing a pill or dissolving a drug to inject it helps a drug reach the bloodstream faster.  This causes faster effects which may include euphoric or sedative sensations, or increased confidence and activity, depending on the drug being abused.

For more information see NIDA’s article.

Commonly abused classes of prescription drugs include opioids (for pain), central nervous system (CNS) depressants (for anxiety and sleep disorders), and stimulants (for ADHD and narcolepsy).

Opioids include such as OxyContin, Viodin, Lortab and Percocet. These are brand names. The generic names of commonly abused drugs include oxycodone, hydrocodone and morphine.

Central nervous system depressants are prescribed to alleviate tension, anxiety and sleep disorders. They include brand names such as Nembutal, Valium, Librium, Xanax and Halcion.

Stimulant medications increase alertness, attention, energy, blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing rate. The brand names include Adderall, Ritalin, Concentra, and Dexedrine.

Prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs) continue to be among the most promising state-level interventions to improve opioid prescribing, inform clinical practice, and protect at-risk patients. Although findings are mixed, evaluations of PDMPs have illustrated changes in prescribing behaviors, use of multiple providers by patients, and decreased substance abuse treatment admissions. States have implemented a range of ways to make PDMPs easier to use and access, and these changes have significant potential for ensuring that the utility and promise of PDMPs are realized.

For example, in Florida, where multiple interventions targeted excessive opioid prescribing from 2010-2012, (e.g., pain clinic regulation and mandated PDMP reporting of dispensed prescriptions), amounts of opioids prescribed decreased in 80% of counties from 2010 to 2015. During this time period, Florida also experienced reductions in prescription opioid-related overdose deaths.

• 2010 Action: Regulated pain clinics and stopped health care providers from dispensing prescription opioid pain relievers from their offices, in combination with establishing a PDMP.
• 2012 Result: Saw more than 50% decrease in oxycodone overdose deaths.

The benefits of using consultants include:

• Unique solutions that reflect the circumstances and aspirations of the client.
• Speed, because the consultancy team (unlike the in-house management) isn’t distracted by other tasks.
• Knowledge of ‘best practice’ and effective solutions from within the client’s industrial/commercial sector.
• Exposure to expertise derived from other industries, labs, and sectors.
• Provision of specific technical skills that are non-existent or in short supply in-house, while often transferring such skills to in-house staff.
• Objective management evaluation/feedback enhanced by the consultant’s independent position.