Related to Substance Abuse and Addiction
Prescription Drugs Abuse Directory
Drug abuse isn't just about illicit drugs such as marijuana or cocaine. Legal medicines with legitimate uses can be abused -- meaning they're taken by someone other than the patient or in a manner or dose other than what's recommended. Follow the links below to find WebMD's comprehensive coverage about prescription drug abuse, how it occurs, how to treat it, and much more.
Medical Reference
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Prescription Drug Abuse
About 20% of the U.S. population has abused prescription meds. What defines an addiction, and which drugs are popular?
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Barbiturate Abuse
Barbiturates, once commonly prescribed for anxiety and sleep disorders, can cause death even in small doses - and their abuse is on the rise among teens. Learn more about the effects of barbiturates.
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Benzodiazepine Abuse Basics
Benzodiazepines are a type of medication known as tranquilizers -- familiar names are Valium and Xanax -- that are easily abused. Learn more about the effects, symptoms, and abuse of these drugs.
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Drug Overdose Basics
Learn how to recognize a drug overdose - either intentional or accidental - and what to do about it.
Features
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Painkillers: Warning Signs of Addiction
Many people worry that taking narcotic painkillers will lead to addiction. There are usually warning signs along the way, like the ones listed here.
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Who Gets Addicted to Prescription Medications?
Most people who take pain pills have no trouble stopping. So how does prescription drug use turn into opioid addiction for some?
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Back Pain: Medication and Addiction
Narcotic addiction is a risk, especially for chronic pain treatment, but the larger problem may be untreated pain.
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Rx Drug Abuse: Common and Dangerous
Experts explain how teens and adults alike are vulnerable to prescription drug abuse for medications ranging from Oxycontin to Ritalin.
Video
Slideshows & Images
Expert Commentary
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Preventing Over-the-Counter Drug Abuse in Teens
A mother and psychologist whose teenage daughter’s drug abuse began with over-the-counter medicines reflects on why she didn’t see it sooner.
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How Parents Can Prevent Teen OTC Drug Abuse
A drug rehab counselor talks about how parents can prevent those first steps to teenage drug addiction.