Most people who take prescription medications use them responsibly. But when abused—that is, taken by someone other than the patient for whom the medication was prescribed, or taken in a manner or dosage other than what was prescribed—prescription medications can produce serious adverse health effects, including addiction.
This non-medical use of prescriptions is becoming a serious and growing problem. The most commonly misused prescription medications is
Oxycontin.
The 2009 Ontario Students Drug Use Health Survey from Centre for Addiction and Mental Health reports:
“About 18% of students report using a prescription opioid pain reliever without a prescription at least once in the past year representing about 180,200 Ontario students in grades 7 to 12. The non-medical use of this class of drugs, which includes Tylenol # 3, codeine, Percocet, Percodan and Demerol, ranks just after cannabis use. Three-quarters of those who used an opioid pain reliever non-medically report obtaining it from home”.
For information or help:
Canadian Mental Health Association
Drug and Alcohol Registry of Treatment
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
