Kids, just say no to drugs.
Welcome to WatchMojo.com,
and today we're counting down our picks,
for the "Top 10 Most Abused Prescription Drugs".
For this list,
we're looking at pharmaceutical drugs
that are often prescribed by doctors,
but which are also sought-after on the black market.
The rankings are based on how commonly
they're used for recreational purposes,
and how dangerous they are.
Please note:
WatchMojo does not condone drug use.
Dilaudid is an opioid class painkiller often prescribed
by doctors for treating moderate to severe pain,
as an alternative to morphine.
In fact,
it's actually considered
eight times stronger than morphine.
Recreationally,
it's used as a substitute for heroin,
and,
the preferred way to consume it, is intravenously,
Where it produces a euphoric rush
and enhances feelings of happiness.
Users can often build a dependency
and an addiction to Dilaudid,
as many who abuse the drug feel rapid mood swings,
and a need to increase their dosage.
In 2008,
there were over 14,000 deaths
due to Dilaudid overdoses in the United States alone,
and,
with many abusers mixing
Dilaudid with heroin or cocaine,
the results can often be deadly.
This muscle relaxant doesn't have a reputation as one of
the more dangerous prescription drugs,
which is why, it's so often abused.
According to the
National Survey on Drug Use and Health,
over 3 million Americans have used
Soma for recreational purposes,
at some point in their lives.
Because it's addictive,
it's usually prescribed for short time use only.
However,
it often gets abused when people take it
for longer than their doctor recommends,
it's also often mixed with alcohol and other drugs in order to enhance its effect.
There are plenty of nicknames associated
with common Soma combinations,
including the "Soma Coma" which
mixes it with a narcotic, codeine,
or the "Holy Trinity",
which sees Soma blended with Vicodin and Xanax.
With over 40 million prescriptions
per year in the US alone,
this hypnotic drug is administered
to help ease insomnia,
and when used as recommended,
it's considered safe and non-addictive.
Using more than the prescribed dose however,
can cause dangerous results.
Recreationally,
Ambien is taken as a sedative
with psychoactive qualities,
and feelings of euphoria and tranquility,
as well as an increased sex drive for some.
Taken in large quantities,
Ambien can lead to a fatal overdose.
However,
most Ambien-related deaths are caused when
it's ingested with other sedative drugs or alcohol.
While it's most often taken orally
in its traditional pill form,
recreational users often snort it for quicker results.
When it entered the market in the 1960's,
Valium quickly became the safe, miracle cure
for anxiety and panic attacks,
and,
it was the highest selling drug from 1968 to 1982.
However,
by the 1970's,
doctors realized that Valium wasn't harmless,
as many patients were reporting
problems with dependency and addiction.
Building a tolerance to the medication can be quick,
and withdrawal from it can be very difficult.
People who take Valium enjoy
the feeling of mild euphoria,
especially when used with other sedative drugs.
When the Valium pill is ground
into a powder and snort it,
its effects are even quicker and more intense,
while taking Valium with alcohol,
can lead to deadly results.
It's one of the strongest opiates on the market,
much stronger than morphine or heroin.
Fentanyl (Fentanil) is administered
or prescribed by doctors for breakthrough pain,
which is pain that persists when a patient
is already on a painkiller or anesthesia.
It's so strong,
that if administered intravenously
by someone who is not a doctor,
overdose is a likely result.
When it's prescribed to cancer
patients to deal with pain,
it comes in the form of a lollipop
or a patch to prevent overdose,
people who use Fentanyl feeling anesthetized,
free of problems and concerns.
But the euphoria doesn't last long,
and,
you quickly build a tolerance to it,
so you need higher and higher
dosages to get the same effect,
which can be lethal to abusers.
Xanax is the number one
prescribed psychiatric medication,
and one of the most prescribed
drugs in general in the United States.
More and more people are being prescribed Xanax,
with nearly 50 million prescriptions in the US in 2013..
While it very rarely can be deadly by itself,
it is highly addictive,
especially when mixed with drugs or alcohol.
A tolerance to the medication is built quickly,
and abusers can become physically dependent on it,
as it also has severe withdrawal symptoms,
especially when someone stops taking it abruptly.
According to the Substance Abuse
and Mental Health Services Administration,
the number of ER visits involving Xanax in the US,
has significantly increased,
with over 120,000 visits in 2011.
The majority of the entries on
this list are used by adults.
However,
this drug is almost exclusive to teens and...
college-aged students.
With properties similar to Ritalin (Methylphenidate),
Adderall (amphetamine and dextroamphetamine)
is a central nervous system stimulant,
used to help people who have ADHD
(Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder).
And its on the rise according to IMS Health,
has approximately 16 million prescriptions
were written for stimulants like Adderall in 2012,
which is triple the amount written in 2008.
By far the most common place to find Adderall
being used recreationally is on college campuses,
where students often use it, as a study drug.
However, this drug isn't just
for students looking for an A,
as many are using it to party and stay up late.
There are plenty of dangers associated with Adderall,
besides addiction,
abusing it can lead to anxiety,
depression,
and seizures.
Codeine is an opioid that is generally
used to treat mild to moderate pain,
recreationally,
codeine produces feelings of euphoria and relaxation,
but it's much less intense than what's
experienced with heroin or morphine.
Heroin users sometimes use
codeine as a temporary substitute,
when they're unable to get their usual opiate.
Another popular use for codeine
is to take it, as part of a narco cocktail,
also known as a "codeine-based cough syrup",
which is known as "Lean"
(a.k.a Sizzurp, Purple Drank, Syrup).
Misusing the drug,
as well as mixing it with other substances,
can be dangerous,
causing seizures,
respiratory depression,
memory loss and...
death from overdose.
One of the most commonly
prescribed opioids in the United States,
Vicodin is a combination of
hydrocodone and acetaminophen,
used to treat moderate to severe pain.
The hydrocodone properties of
Vicodin make it highly addictive,
and prolonged use,
requires an increase in dosage to get the same effect.
Abuse of prescription opiates has increased
dramatically in the United States,
especially since it's so highly prescribed,
with 136 million prescriptions in 2013,
according to the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Experts believe that the recent increase in heroin use,
is due in part to the large number of people who
become addicted to opioids, such as Vicodin.
And then...
graduate to heroin.
Before we unveil our number one pick,
here are some honorable mentions.
(a.k.a. Acetaminophen and Oxycodone)
This pain relieving prescription opioid is...
extra powerful,
but extra dangerous when abused.
Unlike some of the other opioids on this list,
OxyContin (a.k.a. OxyCotton),
also known as "Oxy";
boosts higher amount of pain blockers,
and...
it's controlled release tablet last a longer period of time,
supposedly, 12 hours.
Oxycodone is classified as a "Schedule II" drug,
since it's highly addictive,
with extremely severe withdrawal symptoms.
When taken recreationally,
it's either taken orally,
crushed and snorted,
or diluted in water and injected intravenously.
When a user builds a tolerance to
their dosage they start taking more,
which starts a dangerous,
and sometimes deadly cycle.
Do you agree with our list?
What do you think is the most
abused prescription drug?
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