Most Commonly Abused Types of Drugs

Most commonly abused classes of prescription drugs

• Opioids, such as OxyContin and Vicodin, which are most often prescribed to treat pain;
• Central nervous system (CNS) depressants, such as Valium and Xanax, which are used to treat anxiety and sleep disorders; and
• Stimulants, which are prescribed to treat certain sleep disorders and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and include drugs such as Ritalin and Adderall.

Risks of prescription drug abuse

Opioids:

• High risk for addiction and overdose. This is a major concern, particularly for recently synthesized slowrelease formulations, which abusers override by crushing the pills and injecting or snorting the contents, heightening their risk for respiratory depression and death.
• Dangerous combination effects. Combining opioids with other drugs, including alcohol, can intensify respiratory distress.
• Heightened HIV risk. Injecting opioids increases the risk of HIV and other infectious diseases through use of unsterile or shared equipment.

CNS Depressants:

• Addiction and withdrawal dangers. These drugs can be highly addictive and, in chronic users, discontinuing them absent a physician’s guidance can bring about severe withdrawal symptoms that must be properly managed by a medical professional.
• Risk of overdose. Overdose can cause severe breathing problems and lead to death, especially when these drugs are combined with other medications or alcohol.

Stimulants:

• Reputation as performance enhancers. Incorrectly perceived as safe for enhancing academic achievement and weight loss, these drugs are highly addictive and potentially harmful.
• Range of risky health consequences. These include risk of dangerously high body temperature, seizures, and cardiovascular complications.