RX DRUGS

The term "prescription drugs" encompasses most all pharmaceutical medicine. Some are good. Some are bad. A good rule of thumb; if a doctor hasn't suggested you take it, don't. The misuse and abuse of prescription medications is a growing public health concern. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), estimates that in 2003, 6.3 million Americans aged 12 and older abused prescription drugs (that is, took medications not prescribed for them or took medications solely for pleasure or entertainment) in the month preceding the survey. Most abused pain relievers (4.7 million); others abused tranquilizers (1.8 million), stimulants (1.2 million), and sedatives (0.3 million). The abuse of prescription medications has increased in all segments of the population, and in recent years the increase in abuse of prescription painkillers has been particularly sharp and worrisome. In 2002, the NIDA-supported Monitoring the Future survey initiated questions about the prescription pain medications oxycodone (OxyContin) and hydrocodone (Vicodin). In that year and in 2003, about 4 percent and 4.5 percent, respectively, of high school seniors reported nonmedical use of oxycodone in the 12 months preceding the survey. Roughly 10 percent of seniors reported nonmedical use of hydrocodone, making it the third most widely abused illicit substance (after marijuana and amphetamine) in this age group. The abuse of prescription pain medications is increasing among adult Americans as well. Among young adults aged 18 to 25, the rate increased from 22.1 percent in 2002 to 23.7 percent in 2003, NSDUH data show. Abuse of oxycodone increased among all age groups from 2002 to 2003: by more than 10 percent among Americans aged 12 to 17, by nearly 40 percent among 18- to 25-year-olds, and by 60 percent for Americans aged 26 or older.