Commonly Abused Prescription Drugs
In the United States, most sedatives can only be legally dispensed with a prescription, because they have some potential for addiction and dependence. If sedatives are prescribed, it is sometimes in small quantities, which will last one week or even less. Examples of such drugs include zolpidem (Ambien), alprazolam (Xanax), and diazepam (Valium). Dependence on such medications usually arises because the patient comes to rely on the effects of the drug to fall asleep, or to prevent anxiety attacks.
Prescription pain medications that contain an opiate or opioid painkiller have a high potential for addiction and abuse, including oxycodone (common brand names Percocet, OxyContin), hydrocodone (Vicodin, Lortab), meperidine (brand name Demerol), hydromorphone (Palladone, Dilaudid), oxymorphone (Opana, Numorphan), and morphine (MS Contin, Kadian, Avinza). Less powerful opiates and opioids (such as codeine, propoxyphene), and tramadol are generally less addictive. Tramadol is a novel, non-scheduled analgesic similar in effect to other narcotic painkillers, but has a high risk of inducing seizures.
Newer medications of abuse include various preparations of the extremely potent and potentially addictive narcotic analgesic fentanyl, including Duragesic (a self-adhesive skin patch, available in five strengths which are 12mcg/hr, 25mcg/hr, 50mcg/hr, 75mcg/hr, and 100mcg/hr each to be applied for 3 days) and Actiq (berry-flavored lollipops that dissolve slowly in the mouth for absorption across the buccal mucosa, available in six strengths). All of these are categorized as Schedule II drugs under the U.S. Controlled Substances Act (with the exception of tramadol and some preparations of codeine and hydrocodone) and have stringent physical security associated with them. They must remain under lock and key at all times; every tablet must be precisely accounted for; no refills are permitted on prescriptions; and no telephone orders are accepted, with the exception of palliative care facilities (i.e., to discourage prescription fraud).
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Famous quotes containing the words commonly abused, commonly, abused, prescription and/or drugs:
“Tobacco, divine, rare, superexcellent tobacco, which goes far beyond all the panaceas, potable gold, and philosophers’ stones, a sovereign remedy to all diseases ... but as it is commonly abused by most men, which take it as tinkers do ale, ‘tis a plague, a mischief, a violent purger of goods, lands, health; hellish, devilish and damned tobacco, the ruin and overthrow of body and soul.”
—Robert Burton (1577–1640)
“It is commonly said ... that ridicule is the best test of truth; for that it will not stick where it is not just. I deny it. A truth learned in a certain light, and attacked in certain words, by men of wit and humour, may, and often doth, become ridiculous, at least so far, that the truth is only remembered and repeated for the sake of the ridicule.”
—Philip Dormer Stanhope, 4th Earl Chesterfield (1694–1773)
“My political enemies I can freely forgive; but as for who abused me when I was serving my country in the field, and those who attacked me for serving my country—Doctor, that is a different case.”
—Andrew Jackson (1767–1845)
“Women are taught that their main goal in life is to serve others—first men, and later, children. This prescription leads to enormous problems, for it is supposed to be carried out as if women did not have needs of their own, as if one could serve others without simultaneously attending to one’s own interests and desires. Carried to its “perfection,” it produces the martyr syndrome or the smothering wife and mother.”
—Jean Baker Miller (20th century)
“To possess your soul in patience, with all the skin and some of the flesh burnt off your face and hands, is a job for a boy compared with the pains of a man who has lived pretty long in the exhilarating world that drugs or strong waters seem to create and is trying to live now in the first bald desolation created by knocking them off.”
—C.E. (Charles Edward)