300+ SHARES |

The most abused prescription drugs in America kill more people than car accidents or firearms, they also kill more people than cocaine and heroin combined!

Medication abuse has become an epidemic in the United States. The most commonly abused drugs aren’t the illegal ones anymore…they’re the legal variety, prescribed by your ‘honest and trustworthy’ doctor.

The United States of America makes up just 7% of the planet’s entire population…yet, they consume over 80% of all the prescription drugs in the world!

America has become a nation of pill poppers and it’s not surprising why there’s so much rampant pill abuse. The pharmaceutical industry has produced a pill for almost any ailment – from anxiety, pain, depression and allergies, to even loneliness – boy, you name it and they got a pill for it.

The most abused prescription drugs are quite easy to get a hold of. 89% of addicts obtain their stash from licensed doctors and pharmacies.

The pharmaceutical industry has colluded with doctors, in order to make people dependent on these legal drugs. Most of these meds are so potent and habit-forming, that users get quite easily addicted to them, even with doctors’ supervision.

In order to fully comprehend the extent of opioid and antidepressant abuse, let’s take a look at the following shocking statistics:

Everyday in the United States – 34% of adults take at least one prescription drug and 11.5% take three or more.

Every month – 1 million Americans abuse prescription drugs.

Every year in America – over 1 million emergency-room visits are attributed to prescription medication abuse.

Opioid medication alone, kills more than a 100,000 people in America every single year.

Everyday in the United States – over 7,500 teenagers will abuse an opioid prescription drug for the 1st time.

Opioid prescription drugs kill more people than any other drug, including cocaine and heroin.

Every year – prescription drugs kill more Americans than car accidents and firearms.

52 million people in America have used prescription drugs for non-medical reasons at some point in their lifetime.

Every year – enough prescription drugs are prescribed by doctors, to effectively medicate every adult in America…every four hours…for an entire month.

Despite the facts stated above – the U.S. government claims, that the most abused prescription drugs are safer than cannabis, and 35% of Americans believe that prescription medications are safer than illicit drugs.

Just because prescription drugs are legal and prescribed by doctors, doesn’t make them any less dangerous and addictive. These drugs are often just as addictive as opioids like heroin!

The most abused prescription drugs in the United States, mainly fall into three specific categories:

Opioids: They produce a short-term euphoric effect. Most painkillers fall into this category.

Stimulants: They increase or stimulate brain activity to provide greater alertness and energy.

Tranquilizers: These drugs calm and relax the nerves – they’re also referred to as depressants or anti-anxiety medications.

We’re going to dive in deeper and get to know these drugs on a more in-depth level, by exploring their chemical compositions, their side effects and how they affect our bodies.

Well, let’s begin with our countdown, of the most abused prescription drugs in the United States…your favorite rapper or pop-singer most likely uses them everyday, and some of them might even be in your medicine cabinet right now.

( 10 ) Klonopin

Klonopin is the 10th most commonly abused substance in America. Its chemical name is Clonazepam (CLZ) and it’s highly addictive.

1/3 of people who use Klonopin for longer than a month, develop a dependency and get addicted. It’s prescribed to both adults and children.

Klonopin is classified as a benzodiazepine tranquilizer. In the developing world – it costs between US$0.01 and US$0.07 per pill – to develop it on a wholesale scale. You start to feel its effects within an hour.

It’s prescribed to treat seizures, anxiety, panic disorders, akathisia (movement disorder) and alcohol withdrawal syndromes. It’s ironic that this highly addictive drug is one of the medications used to treat substance abuse.

— Common Side Effects —

Psychotic hallucinations

Aggressiveness

Agitation

Memory loss

Depression

Drowsiness

Addiction

Poor coordination

Increase risk of suicide in depressed people

Potentially fatal withdrawal symptoms if stopped abruptly

It’s commonly used as a recreational drug in many parts of the world. Klonopin works by increasing the effect of the chief inhibitory neurotransmitter, Gamma-AminoButyric Acid (GABA), by binding to its receptors.

Klonopin is one of the most abused prescription drugs in the world, due to its lasting effects, which can last up to 12 hours straight!







( 9 ) Fentanyl

Fentanyl is the 9th most commonly abused substance in the United States. It’s the most widely used synthetic opioid in medicine and it’s used with other medications for anesthesia.

This very potent opioid pain reliever causes many deaths due to respiratory failure. It’s a 100 times more powerful than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin! In 2016 alone – it caused more than 20,000 deaths in America.

It’s injected, used as a patch on the skin or as a nasal spray. On a wholesale scale – it costs US$0.66 to produce a 100 micro-gram vial of Fentanyl in the developing world.

The company that produces Fentanyl is under Federal investigation, yet they heavily finance anti-cannabis legislation in Arizona.

— Common Side Effects —

Coma

Nausea

Sedation

Addiction

Confusion

Constipation

Hallucination

Poor coordination

Low blood pressure

Serotonin syndrome

Decreased breathing – (respiratory depression) – often fatal

Fentanyl works by activating μ-opioid receptors and its effects last for an hour or two.

Because of its rapid onset and lethal potency, it’ll remain as one of the most abused prescription drugs in the world.







( 8 ) Ambien

Ambien’s chemical name is Zolpidem and it’s the 8th most commonly abused substance in America. Ambien addicts often ingest it with alcohol or other other drugs, as prolonged use builds tolerance.

The hypnotic drug is prescribed for short-term insomnia and other sleeping disorders.

It’s effects start working within 15 minutes and makes people stay asleep for longer periods at higher doses.

Ambien is one of the most abused prescription drugs in the United States – more than 10 million prescriptions are filled in by doctors, each and every year!

— Common Side Effects —

Nausea

Amnesia

Diarrhea

Delusions

Addiction

Hallucinations

Headaches

Sleepwalking or sleep driving

Daytime sleepiness

Memory loss

Slowed breathing and heart rate – often leads to coma or death

Ambien works by binding to the GABAA receptors and increases the GABA effects in the central nervous system.







( 7 ) Percocet

Percocet is the 7th most commonly abused substance in America. It’s a combination of Oxycodone and Acetaminophen (Tylenol).

It’s an opioid pain-killer used to treat moderate to severe acute pain. It’s intended for short-term use.

Percocet is dangerously addictive and addicts often snort it for a very intense high. American rapper, Future, is addicted to Percocets, among many others in the music industry.

It’s one of the most abused prescription drugs because of its euphoric effects – this makes it very hard to shake and users become addicted within a month or less.

— Common Side Effects —

Nausea

Seizures

Addiction

Liver damage

Low blood pressure

Bluish nails and lips

Slowed breathing and heart rate – (respiratory depression) – often leads to coma or death

Percocet abuse is increasing at an alarming rate among teenage users.







( 6 ) Valium

Diazepam, popularly know as Valium, is a benzodiazepine medication that can be taken orally, anally or injected into the bloodstream. It’s the 6th most commonly abused substance in the United States.

Valium is prescribed to treat: sleep disorders, seizures, muscle spasms, anxiety, restless leg syndrome, benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome and alcohol withdrawal syndrome.

It costs 0.01 USD per dose to produce Valium in the developing world. When ingested orally or anally, its effects begin in about 40 minutes. When injected into a vein, effects begin in 1 to 5 minutes.

Valium chemically restructures the brain to produce a calming effect. When abused – it causes a high that’s similar to being drunk and for many people it becomes habit-forming, and that’s why its one of the most abused prescription drugs in the world.

— Common Side Effects —

Drowsiness

Addiction

Seizures

Agitation

Altered sex drive

Lowered inhibitions

Depressed breathing

Increased risk of suicide

Poor coordination

After discontinuation of medication, cognitive problems may persist for 6 months or longer

Abrupt discontinuation of medication after prolonged use, can be potentially dangerous and fatal

It works by increasing the effects of the neurotransmitter – Gamma-AminoButyric Acid (GABA).







( 5 ) Adderall

Adderall is one of the most abused prescription drugs because it induces feelings of invincibility, and triples energy and stamina levels in abusers – making the potential to get addicted exceptionally high.

It’s a central nervous system stimulant classified as an amphetamine and it’s the 5th most commonly abused substance in the United States.

It’s prescribed to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), narcolepsy and severe depression. It’s also used as an athletic performance enhancer, and a cognitive enhancer.

Adderall use in college students has been steadily increasing since its introduction into the market. Students use it as a ‘study drug’ for its induced effect of increased wakefulness.

At moderately high doses, it induces physical effects such as increased muscle strength, fatigue resistance and faster reaction time. It also acts as an aphrodisiac and induces feelings of euphoria.

— Common Side Effects —

Tremors

Insomnia

Numbness

Seizures

Dry mouth

Addiction

Aggression

Blistering

Convulsions

Coma or death

Loss of appetite

Cardiac arrhythmia

Rapid muscle breakdown

Psychosis – (delusions and paranoia)

Adderall’s main active ingredient is amphetamine and it works by increasing the activity of the neurotransmitters – norepinephrine and dopamine – in the brain.







( 4 ) Suboxone

Suboxone is a combination of buprenorphine and naxalone. It’s used to treat moderate to severe pain and it’s the 4th most commonly abused substance.

Ironically, this synthetic opioid began as an addiction recovery drug, used as treatment for people addicted to actual opioids such as heroin.

The risk of overdose with Suboxone is lower than with other opioid drugs. It’s available for use in two different ways, either by placing it under the tongue or on the inside of the cheek.

It’s the number one drug bought and sold illegally in US jails and prisons. It’s one of the most abused prescription drugs, as it provides abusers with a mild euphoric high that lasts more than 48 hours!

— Common Side Effects —

Dizziness

Addiction

Memory loss

Small pupils

Extreme drowsiness

Low blood pressure

Cognitive impairment

Slowed breathing – (respiratory depression) – possible death

Because Suboxone’s high is less potent than other opiates, abusers often use it with alcohol and other drugs.







( 3 ) Vicodin

Vicodin is a combination hydrocodone and acetaminophen, it’s also sold as Lortab or Norco, and it’s the 3rd most commonly abused substance.

It’s an opioid pain reliever that’s as potent as morphine and it’s used to treat moderate to chronic pain. Vicodin is highly addictive and easy to overdose on.

It’s one of the most abused prescription drugs in the United States, as abusers experience a very intense feeling of euphoria and an altered perception of pain.

More than 16 million prescriptions of Vicodin are made every year in America and according to the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), it’s the 2nd most encountered opioid drug found in submitted evidence.

— Common Side Effects —

Fear

Anxiety

Headaches

Dizziness

Addiction

Constipation

Muscle limpness

Rash and itching

Low blood pressure

Nausea and vomiting

Low blood sugar coma

Inability to urinate and bladder spasms

Hearing impairment or permanent hearing loss

Impairment of mental and physical performance

Slow heart rate and breathing – can lead to death

Somnolence – (extreme sleepiness) – can progress into a coma

Liver and kidney failure – sometimes resulting in transplant surgeries or death

Just like other opioid prescription drugs, Vicodin causes serious withdrawal symptoms that can be potentially fatal, making it difficult for users to stop taking it.







( 2 ) Xanax

Alprazolam is a medication of the benzodiazepine class and it’s more popularly known as Xanax. It’s the 2nd most commonly abused substance in America.

Xanax is a potent hypnotic and sedative used for the treatment of social anxiety disorder, panic attacks, insomnia, anxiety disorders and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).

Because of its fast rapid onset and long-lasting effects, Xanax will remain one of the most abused prescription drugs in the world.

It’s the most prescribed and misused benzodiazepine in the United States.

Tolerance for Xanax develops in just a few days of taking it, prompting users to take more and more of the prescription drug – eventually leading to addiction in a very short amount of time.

— Common Side Effects —

Amnesia

Increased risk of suicide

Blackouts – if taken with alcohol or grapefruit

Potentially life-threatening withdrawal symptoms – just like the other benzodiazepines on this list

Xanax works by depressing the central nervous system, inducing a calming and sedative effect.







( 1 ) Oxycontin (Oxycodone)

Finally we made it to the number 1 spot on our countdown – Oxycontin, also known as Oxycodone, is an opioid drug used for the relief of moderate to severe pain and it’s the most commonly abused substance in America.

Oxycontin’s ability to produce a very intense euphoric heroin-like high makes it one of the most abused prescriptions drugs in the world. Oxycontin currently drives the opioid epidemic in the United States.

Even at regular doses, it slows down breathing and users can become physically, and psychologically addicted to the drug within a month. Addicts usually crush, chew, snort or inject it to obtain a more potent high all at once.

It was originally intended to help late-stage cancer patients cope with pain and it’s more than a (100 to 500) times more potent than morphine!

— Common Side Effects —

Itching

Sweating

Dizziness

Dry mouth

Addiction

Somnolence

Constipation

Nausea and vomiting

Low blood pressure

Respiratory depression

Circulatory collapse

Respiratory arrest

Potentially-fatal withdrawal symptoms

Death

Oxycontin targets μ-opioid receptors in the spinal cord and the brain.

And there you have it folks…the top 10 most abused prescription drugs in the United States! If you found our post informative, please share and comment…

Also, don’t forget to subscribe for more awesome content!





Subscribe now

— & —

You will never miss a new post or video



Leave this field empty if you're human:

Most Abused Prescription Drugs

PIN ME \/

References

Wikipedia.org > Alprazolam

Wikipedia.org > Oxycodone/paracetamol

Wikipedia.org > Oxycodone

Wikipedia.org > Fentanyl

Wikipedia.org > Adderall

Wikipedia.org > Hydrocodone/paracetamol

Wikipedia.org > Buprenorphine/naloxone

Wikipedia.org > Diazepam

Wikipedia.org > Zolpidem

Wikipedia.org > Clonazepam