Prescription medicines can improve health when used as directed. Learn what prescription drug misuse means, which types of medicines are commonly misused, and why using medication differently than prescribed can be dangerous.
Pain relievers, stimulants, sedatives, and other prescription medicines have legitimate medical uses, but some can also be misused or lead to addiction. Learn about common medications and their risks.
Prescription opioids are powerful pain medications. Learn how opioids work, why misuse can lead to dependence or addiction, and how an opioid overdose can become life-threatening.
Pills sold online, through social media, or anywhere outside a licensed pharmacy may look like legitimate prescription medications but contain fentanyl or other unexpected substances. You cannot reliably identify a counterfeit pill by looking at it.
Keeping medications you no longer need can create unnecessary risks at home. Learn how drug take-back programs, mail-back options, and FDA disposal guidance can help you safely remove unused or expired medicines.
An opioid overdose can happen with prescription opioids as well as illicit opioids. Naloxone, commonly known by the brand name Narcan, can rapidly reverse an opioid overdose and restore breathing.
Prescription medicines are not automatically safe simply because they came from a doctor. Learn about commonly misused medications, why teens may misuse them, and steps families can take to reduce the risk.
Conversations about substance use should include prescription and over-the-counter medicines. Get practical advice for explaining medication safety, misuse, and the risks of taking or sharing someone else's prescription.
Keeping medications secure and disposing of unused prescriptions can help prevent accidental use and misuse. Learn how to make medications in your home less accessible and safely remove those you no longer need.
Counterfeit pills may be made to resemble medications such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, alprazolam, or prescription stimulants. Learn why medication should only come from a trusted medical professional and licensed pharmacy.
Parents can help teens use medications safely by understanding the prescription, monitoring its use, keeping medications secure, discussing the risks of misuse, and safely disposing of medicine that is no longer needed.
If you're concerned about changes in your child's behavior or possible medication misuse, learn what signs to watch for, how to offer support, and where families can turn for professional help.
Naloxone can reverse an opioid overdose, including an overdose involving prescription opioids. Families with prescription opioids in the home should understand overdose risks and know how naloxone is used.
Prescription medicines can help when they're prescribed for you and taken as directed. Taking someone else's medication, taking more than prescribed, or using medicine for a different reason can be dangerous.
A medication prescribed for you was selected based on your health and medical needs. Sharing prescriptions—or taking medicine prescribed to someone else—can cause unexpected side effects, dangerous interactions, or overdose.
Prescription opioids can relieve serious pain, but they can also cause dependence, addiction, and overdose. Learn why following the prescription exactly and understanding opioid risks matters.
Prescription stimulants are sometimes misused in an attempt to stay awake, study, or improve performance. Taking stimulants differently than prescribed or taking someone else's medication is prescription drug misuse and carries health risks.
A pill from a friend, dealer, website, or social-media contact may look exactly like a prescription medication but contain fentanyl or another substance. The only safe medications are those prescribed by a trusted medical professional and dispensed by a licensed pharmacist.
Combining prescription medications with alcohol, other prescriptions, or other drugs can cause dangerous interactions. Never change how you take a medication or mix substances without guidance from a healthcare professional.
