Prescription Drug Abuse FAQ

Prescription drug abuse or misuse is:

  • Taking a prescription drug without a prescription.
  • Taking a prescription drug that was prescribed for someone else.
  • Taking a prescription drug at a higher dose, or more often than prescribed.
  • Using a prescription drug long after the original health problem has passed.
  • Trying to self-medicate for a condition that hasn’t been diagnosed by a doctor.
  • Taking a prescription drug for a purpose other than it’s intended for – such as using a
    stimulant to study better, or a painkiller to get high.
  • Crushing or modifying prescription drugs to enhance their effects.

School administrator discusses the importance of being up to date on prescription drug abuse.