Prescription and over-the-counter medications
Some medications have psychoactive (mind-altering) properties and, because of that, are sometimes abused—that is, taken for reasons or in ways or amounts not intended by a doctor, or taken by someone other than the person for whom they are prescribed. In fact, prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs are, after marijuana and alcohol, the substances most commonly abused by Americans age 14 and older.
The classes of prescription drugs most commonly abused are opioid pain relievers, stimulants for treating attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and central nervous system (CNS) depressants for relieving anxiety. The most commonly abused OTC drugs are cough and cold remedies containing dextromethorphan.
People often think that prescription and OTC drugs are safer than illicit drugs, but that's only true when they are taken exactly as prescribed, and for the purpose intended. When abused, prescription and OTC drugs can be addictive and put abusers at risk for other adverse health effects, including overdose, especially when taken along with other drugs or alcohol.
How are prescription drugs abused?
Prescription and OTC drugs may be abused in one or more of the following ways:
- Taking a medication that has been prescribed for somebody else—Unaware of the dangers of sharing medications, people often unknowingly contribute to this form of abuse by sharing their unused pain relievers with their family members.
- Taking a drug in a higher quantity or in another manner than prescribed—Most prescription drugs are dispensed orally in tablets, but abusers sometimes crush the tablets and snort or inject the powder. This hastens the entry of the drug into the bloodstream and the brain, and amplifies its effects.
- Taking a drug for another purpose than prescribed—All of the drug types mentioned can produce pleasurable effects at sufficient quantities, so taking them for the purpose of getting high is one of the main reasons people abuse them. ADHD drugs are also often abused by students for their effects in promoting alertness and concentration.
How do prescription and OTC drugs affect the brain?
Taken as intended, prescription and OTC drugs safely treat specific mental or physical symptoms, but when taken in different quantities or when such symptoms aren't present, they may affect the brain in ways very similar to illicit drugs.
For example, stimulants increase alertness, attention, and energy the same way cocaine does—by boosting the amount of the neurotransmitter dopamine. Opioid pain relievers attach to the same cell receptors targeted by illegal opioids like heroin. Prescription depressants produce sedating or calming effects in the same manner as the club drugs GHB and rohypnol, by enhancing the actions of the neurotransmitter GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid). When taken in very high doses, dextromethorphan acts on the same glutamate receptors as PCP or ketamine, producing similar out-of-body experiences.
When abused, all of these classes of drugs directly or indirectly cause a pleasurable increase in the amount of dopamine in the brain's reward pathway. Repeatedly seeking to experience that feeling can lead to addiction.
What are the other health effects of prescription and OTC drugs?
Stimulants can have strong effects on the cardiovascular system. Taking high doses of a stimulant can dangerously raise body temperature and cause irregular heartbeat or even heart failure or seizures. Also, taking some stimulants in high doses or repeatedly can lead to hostility or feelings of paranoia.
Opioids can produce drowsiness, cause constipation, and—depending upon the amount taken—depress breathing. The latter effect makes opioids particularly dangerous, especially when they are snorted, injected, or combined with other drugs or alcohol.
CNS depressants slow down brain activity and can cause sleepiness and loss of coordination. Continued use can lead to physical dependence and withdrawal symptoms if use is discontinued.
Dextromethorphan can cause impaired motor function, numbness, nausea or vomiting, and increased heart rate and blood pressure. On rare occasions, hypoxic brain damage—caused by severe respiratory depression and a lack of oxygen to the brain—has occurred due to the combination of dextromethorphan with decongestants often found in the medication.
All of these drugs have the potential for addiction, and this risk is amplified when they are abused. Also, as with other drugs, abuse of prescription and OTC drugs can alter a person's judgment and decision making, leading to dangerous behaviors such as unsafe sex and drugged driving.
U.S. National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Drug Abuse. (Revised 2014, December). DrugFacts: Prescription and over-the-counter medications. Retrieved May 16, 2017, from http://www.drugabuse.gov
