Prescription Drugs
What prescription drugs are used and abused?
There are several categories of prescription drugs that are used and abused:
Opioids: Used to treat pain
- Morphine
- Codeine
- Other narcotics
CNS Depressants: Used to treat anxiety and sleep disorders
- Mebaral
- Nembutal
- Valium
- Xanax
Stimulants: Used to treat sleep disorder narcolepsy, ADHD, and obesity
- Dexedrine
- Ritalin
- Meridia
According to the 1999 Drug Abuse Warning Network, college students non medical use of pain relievers such as oxycodone is on a rise.
How are prescription drugs used?
Most prescription drugs are taken orally in pill form.
What are the short term effects of prescription drug use?
Opioids: Blocked pain messages, drowsiness, constipation, depressed respirations
CNS Depressants: A sleepy and uncoordinated feeling
Stimulants: Elevated blood pressure, heart rate and respiration, suppressed appetite, and sleep deprivation.
What are the long term effects of prescription drug use?
Opioids: tolerance, dependence, addiction and withdrawal
CNS Depressants: tolerance, dependence, addiction and withdrawal
Stimulants: addiction