Top 10 Most Abused Prescription Medications

In today's society, getting high doesn't require a visit to shady neighborhoods to find illicit drugs. Instead, it can be as easy as opening the medicine cabinet and popping a couple of pills. With prescription drug misuse becoming so widespread, it's essential for both parents and friends to understand which medications are commonly abused and the effects these substances have on the body.

10. Ambien zolpidem

Zolpidem, a nonbenzodiazepine (similar to benzodiazepines but with a different molecular structure), has powerful sedative and hypnotic effects. It is prescribed primarily for insomnia, and sometimes as a muscle relaxant. Like alcohol, its GABA antagonist properties can reduce inhibitions and encourage sociability. In very high doses, it may cause memory loss, leading to users having a 'night they can't recall.' Ambien abuse is common among adolescents who don't have easy access to alcohol but can find it in their parents' medicine cabinet. Although it is a legitimate medication prescribed by doctors, users should remember that activities like driving or operating heavy machinery, such as chainsaws, are unsafe while under the influence. In 2009, Eminem publicly struggled with zolpidem, using it to manage the stress of his life.

9. Seroquel quetiapine

Though antipsychotic medications are seldom categorized as “drugs of abuse,” quetiapine deserves a place on this list due to its widespread recreational use in prison environments. Prescribed for conditions like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and insomnia, Seroquel is unlikely to be seen as a drug you'd want to admit to taking. However, it has earned the nickname “Jailhouse Heroin” among incarcerated individuals. Abusers seek its calming effects and its ability to induce a numbing, detached state of mind. In prisons, inmates often trade meals and money for these pills, only to regret the consequences once the effects subside. While it is primarily a prison drug, Seroquel is also used recreationally outside of these settings. It’s commonly used to counteract the effects of stimulants like cocaine and amphetamines, ease anxiety during difficult drug experiences, and when combined with cocaine, forms a “Q-ball.” With such a notorious combination, it’s clear that “Suzie Qs” are among the most ill-advised substances to experiment with.

8. Dilaudid hydromorphone

Dilaudid, often prescribed for pain and occasionally for severe cough, is a potent drug known for its unpredictable effects. Its nature as an 'all or nothing' pharmaceutical means that its users might either feel no euphoria even after exceeding the prescribed dosage, or they might experience an intense high with a relatively modest dose. Hydromorphone, the active ingredient in Dilaudid, has low oral bioavailability, meaning taking multiple pills might not lead to the expected effect. However, when injected, the effects can be as intense as intravenous heroin. What sets Dilaudid apart from other opiates is that it can be liquefied through a method called 'cold shaking', which allows it to dissolve in water without heat. This makes it easier for some to inject, though its oral use is more difficult, which may make it a safer option in households with teenagers.

7. Xanax alprazolam

Benzodiazepines are frequently abused by people who self-medicate for anxiety or stress, and one of the most commonly abused is alprazolam, known by the brand name Xanax. It's typically prescribed for panic attacks, insomnia, and occasionally social anxiety. While it’s available in smaller doses of .25, .5, and 1 milligram, the 2mg 'Xanax bar' is particularly popular on the streets. Users often crush it for snorting or simply swallow it. When taken this way, the drug works quickly, bringing about a sense of calm, lowered inhibitions, and a strong feeling of detachment from reality. Similar to other benzodiazepines like Valium, Klonopin, and Ativan, Xanax is misused to promote social interaction and to help users feel more confident in public places like malls and parties. What makes benzodiazepine abuse even more dangerous is the severe withdrawal symptoms, which can include panic attacks and seizures, making it far riskier than other substances like opiates.

6. Desoxyn methamphetamine

No, you didn’t just misread that subtitle. Methamphetamine, or “speed”, “crank”, “ice”, ext. is available by prescription in the United States, New Zealand, and Canada for ADHD treatment, as well as obesity, due to its appetite suppressing effects. Good luck trying to get it legally though, if you’re persuasive enough to convince a doctor that your ADHD is so bad, that only meth can control you, you should seek a career in law. I bet Johnny Cochrane could’ve gotten a script! Okay, not to get off topic. When Desoxyn is obtained, it obviously has very high street value, for its drug and for its consistent dosing. A meth user never knows what he’s getting in a bag he got off the street, but a 10mg Desoxyn tablet would be seen as a “good batch” all day.

5. Narcotic syrups codeine and hydrocodone

Prescription cough syrups like Tussoinex and Phenergan, which contain narcotics such as codeine and hydrocodone, have become a popular substance among young adults, especially influenced by pop culture. Numerous rappers openly celebrate the recreational consumption of 'purple drank', promoting it almost as casually as one would advocate for a safer substance like marijuana. Like other opiates, these syrups produce euphoric, soothing, and relaxing effects that many users find enticing. The term 'lean' has even emerged, referring to the practice of adding a Jolly Rancher candy to the drink for flavor. Although the risk of overdose from codeine and hydrocodone alone is rare, these syrups are often combined with other substances like acetaminophen and guaifenesin, which can cause serious harm to the body more quickly. Codeine and hydrocodone are also commonly found in pill form under the names Tylenol 1-4 and Vicodin, respectively.

4. Adderall mixed amphetamine salts

Known as 'speed in a pill', Adderall has gained widespread use among adolescents, almost as casually as handing out candy. The drug combines l-amphetamine and d-amphetamine in a 25% to 75% ratio, offering significant relief to those struggling with concentration. However, attention disorders are notoriously easy to fake, which is why many high school students sell Adderall to their peers to make a quick profit. Amphetamines, including Adderall, methamphetamine, and Ecstasy (methylenedioxymethamphetamine), are prized for their stimulating, energizing, and sometimes euphoric effects. Adderall, along with Ritalin, is especially abused by high school and college students around exam time, as it significantly boosts focus and motivation, helping them cram for tests.

3. Opana oxymorphone

Though many may not be familiar with Opana, it has quickly risen in popularity among drug users, especially now that OxyContin no longer holds the same appeal for them. Oxymorphone, the key ingredient in Opana, is predicted to become one of the most widely abused painkillers in the near future. While it shares similarities with other narcotics in offering pain relief, its euphoric effects surpass even those of oxycodone and, according to some, may rival those of heroin. Someone with a low tolerance can experience an overwhelming high from just one-eighth of a high-dose (40mg ER) Opana if snorted. As more users spread the word about Opana’s powerful effects, oxymorphone is expected to replace OxyContin as the go-to pharmaceutical drug for those with access to an unlocked medicine cabinet.

2. OxyContin oxycodone

Oxycodone, sometimes marketed as Percocet when combined with acetaminophen and under other brand names, has likely caused more damage over the past two decades than any other medication on this list. Originally synthesized by German researchers in the early 20th century, its widespread use in medicine did not occur until much later. The drug offers users an intensely pleasurable euphoria, almost unrivaled in the narcotic world. In the 1990s, Purdue Pharma introduced OxyContin, a time-release formulation containing enough oxycodone to cause repeated highs, especially in higher doses. For chronic pain sufferers, such as those with cancer or disabilities, this medication provided a new lease on life, enabling them to manage their pain without needing to take pills throughout the day. However, when abused through chewing, snorting, or injecting, this pill became a highly sought-after substance until recent changes in its formula made it more difficult to misuse. Despite these changes, other oxycodone-based products, like Roxicodone, remain widely popular in the opiate community.

1. Laudanum Tincture of opium

Laudanum, a historically significant substance, was named in early 17th century London, although the use of opium extracts stretches far earlier. It is a potent alcoholic mixture containing powdered opium, with varying strengths depending on the preparation. The primary active ingredients include codeine, morphine, and ethanol. In its time, laudanum was seen as a more socially acceptable alternative to smoking opium, which many Chinese people were addicted to during that period. Before the establishment of modern pharmaceutical systems, laudanum was widely available to the general public and was ultimately deemed just as dangerous as opium itself. Its medicinal use continued into the early 20th century in the United States, until it was declared unsuitable for unsupervised consumption. While its widespread use in Europe and America is well-known, what is lesser known is that laudanum is still available today by prescription, commonly used for newborns born to mothers who were addicted to opiates.