COMMONLY MISUSED DRUGS

 

Local youth surveys from 2018 found 30% of teens took a family member's prescription drugs and 6% of high school seniors used a stimulant without a prescription.

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It’s no surprise that teens and young adults are able to find commonly misused medications in their homes. According to the data from the Connecticut Prescription Monitoring and Reporting System (CPMRS), the top five controlled substances in 2020 were benzodiazepines, stimulants and opioid painkillers.

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All prescription drugs serve a purpose, but they are only safe when they are used as prescribed by the person they were prescribed to.

KNOW THE SOURCE

Not prescribed to you?

Not from a pharmacy?

NOT SAFE! 

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You can't tell real from fake by looks.

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REAL ADDERALL

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VS COUNTERFEIT

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  1. Xanax (Alprazolam)
     

  2. ADHD drugs, specifically Adderall (Amphetamine Salts)
     

  3. Klonopin (Clonazepam)
     

  4. Oxycontin (Oxycodone HCL)
     

  5. Ativan (Lorazepam)

Top 5 Controlled Drugs Most Likely to be in Your Medicine Cabinet

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Drug Categories

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CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM (CNS) DEPRESSANTS

These include tranquilizers/ benzodiazepines (Xanax, Ativan, Valium), which are commonly used to treat acute anxiety and panic attacks and sedatives (Ambien, Lunesta, Sonata), which are used for insomnia and other sleep problems.

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STIMULANTS

These medications are used to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy. They increase alertness, attention and energy levels. Adderall is one of the most commonly misused drugs in this class. Young people use it to stay awake or use it to focus on school work to get better grades.

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OPIOID PAINKILLERS

Prescription opioids are typically used to treat moderate to severe pain, but are highly addictive. In addition to calming the body and relieving pain, they make people feel relaxed and some people feel high, which can lead to misuse. OxyContin, Percocet and Vicodin are some of the most commonly misused in this drug class.