• Causes overdose and dangerous poly-drug interactions
• Incites users to commit prescription fraud and/or burglary of pharmacies across the U.S.
• Also known as:
  • painkillers such as Oxycontin (oxy, ox, oc, oxycotton) and Demerol
  • tranquilizers like Valium, Xanax and Diazepam
  • ADHD and sleep disorder medicines such as Dexedrine and Ritalin
  • cold and flu medications


• “Pharming” is the term used by some youth to describe the act of taking several prescription pills at once, to see what happens when they interact.
• Seen with/in blister packs, prescription pill bottles and syringes
• Danger signs include prescriptions at multiple pharmacies and an excessive number of bottles in medicine cabinet or around the home
• Found in the medicine cabinet and local drug store, abused by more than 3 million 12 to 17 year olds in 2001 because of their availability

Prescription drugs relieve suffering for millions of people, make complex surgery possible and enable individuals with chronic medical conditions to control their symptoms and lead productive lives. These drugs prescribed by healthcare professionals can help patients manage severe pain, restore emotional or behavioral imbalance, control sleep disorders or fight obesity. Responsible prescription use includes following the advice of a doctor or pharmacist, learning about possible side effects and understanding the potential interactions one medication may have with another.

Addiction rarely occurs when prescription drugs are used properly. The non-medical use of prescription drugs is a serious public health concern and can lead to abuse, addiction and death. The most commonly abused drugs are opiods given for pain management, depressants used to treat anxiety or sleep disorders and stimulants prescribed to treat narcolepsy and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

In 2001, of an estimated seven million current users of illicit drugs, nearly 2.1 percent of the population aged 12 years and older were currently using prescription drugs for non-medical purposes. The National Household Survey on Drug Abuse statistics indicate the sharpest increases in prescription drug abuse occur among 12 to 17 year-olds.