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Prevention

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The bad news: frightening facts about prescription drug abuse in Michigan.

Prescription drug abuse in Michigan is real. It's growing, and it's dangerous.

Prescription medication is the second most commonly abused category of drugs, second only to marijuana. And Michigan communities are not immune. Learn the facts about this growing and dangerous problem in your community.

Number of Deaths

Since 2000, there have been 8,896 unintentional overdose—and drug poisoning-related deaths recorded in Michigan. The majority of these deaths are related to prescription drugs. (Source: Michigan Department of Health and Human Services)

Treatments of Opiate Abuse

Treatments for other opiates (excluding heroin) have risen from approximately 2,600 in 2003 to over 8,500 in 2013.

Easy to Access

Every day, an average of 2,000 teenagers nationwide use a prescription drug to get high for the first time. They are accessing these drugs in their own homes; it can be as easy as opening a cupboard, drawer, or medicine cabinet.

Prescription Drug Abuse High

Twelve- to 17-year-olds abuse prescription drugs more than they abuse ecstasy, crack/cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine combined.

Abuse Under 15

One in five teens who misused or abused a prescription drug did so before the age of 14. (Source: 2012 Partnership Attitude Tracking Study)

Three Classes of Commonly Abused Prescription Drugs

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse's (NIDA) research report, Prescription Drugs: Abuse and Addiction, there are three classes of prescription drugs that are most commonly abused:

  • Opioids are medications that relieve pain. They reduce the intensity of pain signals reaching the brain and affect those brain areas controlling emotion, which diminishes the effects of painful stimulus. Medications that fall within this class include hydrocodone (e.g., Vicodin), oxycodone (e.g., OxyContin, Percocet), morphine (e.g., Kadian, Avinza), codeine, and related drugs. Hydrocodone products are the most commonly prescribed for a variety of painful conditions, including dental and injury-related pain.
  • Central Nervous System (CNS) Depressants, which are used to treat anxiety and sleep disorders. —Examples include: barbiturates (Mebaral and Nembutal) and benzodiazepines (Valium and Xanax).
  • Stimulants, which are prescribed to treat the sleep disorder narcolepsy, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and obesity. Examples include: dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine and Adderall) and methylphenidate (Ritalin and Concerta)