Learn what constitutes prescription drug abuse and why it’s on the rise today.
Most people will take a prescription medication at some point in their life. But when used incorrectly, these medications can be harmful or lead to prescription drug abuse.
Common Causes of Prescription Drug Abuse
The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that prescription drug abuse is becoming more and more common. In 2017, they estimated that 18 million people in the United States had abused prescription medication that past year. According to the institute, the types of medications most commonly abused are:
Opioids such as hydrocodone (Vicodin) and oxycodone (OxyContin and Percocet) which are used to treat pain