Prescription Drugs

A prescription drug is a licensed drug, medication or medicine that is regulated by government legislation, which requires a medical prescription issued by a health care professional before it can be obtained by the patient. The term is used to distinguish it from over-the-counter drugs which can be obtained without a prescription. Different jurisdictions have different definitions of what constitutes a prescription drug. The abbreviation “Rx” is often used as the short form for prescription drugs. A prescription can also be referred to as a "script."

A prescription is a health-care plan implemented by a physician or other medical practitioner in the form of written instructions governing the treatment of an individual patient. Prescriptions may include orders to be performed by a patient, caretaker, nurse, pharmacist or other therapist. More commonly, the term prescription refers to a written order to take certain medications. Prescriptions have legal implications, as they may indicate that the prescriber takes responsibility for the clinical care of the patient and in particular for monitoring efficacy and safety.

Deaths related to overdoses of prescription drugs have soared in the past decade. The DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) notes that about 7 million Americans are abusing prescription drugs, which is an 80 percent increase from 10 years ago.

According to a report filed with the CDC (Center for Disease Control), the types of prescription drugs that are most commonly used include asthma medicines for children, central nervous system stimulants for adolescents, antidepressants for middle-aged adults, cholesterol lowering and high blood pressure drugs for older Americans. Such patterns reflect the main chronic diseases common at these ages, but may also reflect more aggressive treatments for chronic medical conditions such as high cholesterol and high blood pressure as recommended in the updated clinical guidelines

U.S. News & World Report wrote that prescription drug abuse has risen dramatically in the past few years. Only the illegal use of marijuana is more prevalent. Although prescription drug abuse is rising among all age groups, officials are especially concerned about prescription drug abuse among teenagers. It is reported that one in 10 high school seniors has tried the painkiller Vicodin without a prescription, and 1 in 20 has taken the potent pill OxyContin.

Q: Can using prescription drugs be illegal?

A: People think they're not doing anything illegal because prescription drugs are prescribed by doctors. But taking drugs without a prescription — or sharing a prescription drug with friends — is breaking the law.

Q: How can using prescription drugs be dangerous?

A: If taken without the supervision of a physician or appropriate medical specialist, prescription drugs may be taken inappropriately or in the wrong doses—risking the person's health and possibly causing death.

Caron offers a comprehensive range of treatment services that focus on the medical, psychological, psychiatric, clinical, physical and spiritual aspects of one's recovery.