Nowadays though, these prescription drugs are becoming part of something called prescription drug abuse.Prescription drug abuse is a form of substance abuse. Prescription drug abuse is becoming very common, with nearly 10% of all Americans above the age of 12 being addicted to some type of prescription drug.

Some Prescription Drug Abuse Statistics in the US

• Pain relievers, tranquilizers, stimulants, and sedatives were the most common types of prescription drugs abused in 2017.
• About 1.7 million people aged 12 and older had a pain reliever use disorder (0.6% of this population) in 2017.
• Women tend to more rapidly develop prescription painkiller dependence than men. They're also more likely to have chronic pain, be prescribed pain relievers, and receive higher doses too.
• According to a study published in the journal Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy, individuals who were admitted to opioid treatment programs who abused only prescription opioids, or those who abused both heroin and prescription opioids, were about 5 years younger than individuals admitted solely for heroin abuse or dependency.

Ways in which prescription drugs are abused

Misusing prescription drugs can lead to you getting addicted to them, possibly overdosing on them and in a few extreme cases it could lead to death. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, The United States of America is in the middle of a prescription drug abuse epidemic. There are many ways these drugs can be abused, a few common ways have been listed below.

●Taking a prescription drug that's intended for someone else: Even if you take prescription drugs to serve a medicinal purpose when it was prescribed for someone else, it is still considered to be prescription drug abuse. Before giving drugs to an individual, a doctor considers the person's medical history and present physical conditions among other factors. If you take prescription drugs without proper medical supervision, it could have some adverse effects on your body.

●Taking prescription drugs in adifferent way than it was prescribed: If you take higher doses of the drug, consume more than the recommended levels, take the drug at different times of the day, or even if you take it in a different form( snorting instead of orally consuming), all these are considered to be types of prescription drug abuse.

●Taking prescription drugs to get high: There are a few drugs that produce a high as a side effect when consumed. People consuming prescription drugs for getting high after the treatment period are also considered to be abusing those drugs.

●Taking other drugs along with your prescription drug: If you decide to take a concoction of your prescription drug and alcohol or illegal drugs without consulting your doctor, this can very deadly. This a very serious misuse and could take your life.

Why prescription drugs should be a last resort

Every drug affects more than just one part of the body. When a drug acts on parts it is not intended for, it can cause adverse side effects. Many prescription drugs have severe side effects that might make life miserable for the user and/or abuser. The most common drugs that are prescribed tend to have many drastic side effects. A doctor will be able to gauge the risks of using the drug with rewards and prescribe a suitable drug. If you take a drug without proper medical supervision, you might develop side effects that you weren't aware of.

There are many ways how a drug intended for medicinal purposes could be unsafe. Even though a doctor has recommended the drug, that does not mean that the drug has no side effects and is not addictive. Always follow doctors recommended dosage and frequency of drug intake, as any modification could lead to it acting on your body in a different manner, putting you at risk. You need to understand the side effects the drug causes to know that you must not take more than the recommended dosage

The most dangerous commonly abused prescription drugs

Knowing which prescription drugs are the most dangerous and addictive can help you prepare you, your friends and your family to better prepare if you ever are prescribed these drugs. Among teenagers of ages 14 and above, prescription drug abuse is the third most common form of substance abuse. Both teenagers and adults use these drugs to cope up with their life or just to get high.

The most dangerous prescription drugs are opioids (this includes morphine, codeine, and fentanyl), depressants (this includes alprazolam, Ambien and diazepam) and stimulants (this includes methylphenidate and dextroamphetamine).

Substance abuse using prescription drugs is very dangerous. If you think you or people you know might be affected by it, it is crucial that you seek help immediately. A physician can provide you with the information you need and can guide you through the process. They might even refer you to a medically supervised drug rehab treatment center to ease the process of rehabilitation. It is important to know that rehabilitation is never too late or early for anyone and that there are people who can help you through the process.