Top 10 Abused Prescription Drugs

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 U.S. 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 the narcotic codeine, or the Holy Trinity 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, causing hallucinations 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 is ingested with other sedative drugs or alcohol. While it is most often taken orally in its traditional pill form, recreational users often snort it for quicker results.

When it entered the market in the 1960s, Valium quickly became the safe miracle cure for anxiety and panic attacks, and was the highest selling drug from 1968 to 1982. However, by the 1970s, 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 snorted, 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 is administered or prescribed by doctors for breakthrough pain, which is pain that persists when a patient is already on a painkiller or anaesthesia. It’s so strong that if administered intravenously by someone who is not a doctor, overdose is a likely result. When it is 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 feel anesthetised; 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 U.S. 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 U.S. 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 that of Ritalin, Adderall is a central nervous system stimulant used to help people who have ADHD. And it’s on the rise, according to IMS Health, as 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, aka a Codeine-based cough syrup, which is known as Lean. Misusing the drug, as well as mixing it with other substances, can be dangerous, causing seizures, respiratory depression, memory loss, and death form 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 get to our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
- Percocet

- Zoloft [aka Sertraline]

- Klonopin [aka Clonazepam]

This pain-relieving prescription opioid is extra powerful– but extra dangerous when abused. Unlike some of the other opioids on this list, OxyContin, also known as Oxy, boasts higher amount of pain blockers, and its controlled-release tablet lasts 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? For more addictive Top 10s be sure to visit WatchMojo.com.