"Prescription drug abuse," according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, is the term for taking prescribed medications inappropriately. This may include taking drugs not prescribed to you, taking an excessive amount of drugs or taking drugs for a purpose for which they were not prescribed. The National Institutes of Health estimates that as many as 20 percent of Americans have abused prescription drugs at some time, so recognizing the signs of prescription drug abuse is important.
Step 1
Watch for changes in personality. People who abuse prescription drugs, according to the Mayo Clinic, often show signs of extreme mood swings while taking their medications. In addition, many types of commonly abused prescription drug types have their own recognizable signs of abuse. The Mayo Clinic reports that opioid abuse, for instance, may cause unusual drowsiness, constipation or confusion. Sedative abuse may also cause drowsiness and confusion, in addition to rapid eye movements and difficulty walking. Stimulant abuse may cause irritability, weight loss and insomnia. A sudden appearance of one or more of these symptoms may be a sign that a person is abusing prescription drugs.
Step 2
Learn to recognize drug-seeking behaviors. People who abuse prescription drugs tend to follow similar behavioral patterns in order to maintain their supply. The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that "doctor shopping" (seeking out new doctors to write new prescriptions) is a red flag for prescription drug abuse. Additionally, the Mayo Clinic reports that many abusers fictitiously lose their prescriptions, to have another written by their doctor. Some people are even willing to steal prescriptions or prescription pads. A sign of potential drug abuse might include possession of excessive medication bottles or blank prescriptions.
Step 3
Look for unusual behaviors regarding medication intake. A person who takes more medication than prescribed, or takes medications more often than prescribed, may be abusing. Additionally, taking medications in an unusual way, such as crushing or snorting them (which releases more of the product into the system at a time), is often an indicator of prescription drug abuse.
Step 4
Look for signs of change in lifestyle or school and work behaviors. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, one of the rising classes of prescription drug abusers are school-age children. Watch children for signs of a problem, such as dropping grades or loss of interest in their usual extracurricular activities. Children who are abusing prescription drugs may also start mixing with new friends. Adults may exhibit different behaviors, such as calling in sick to work frequently or falling behind on their job. An increase in disciplinary actions at work or school can be another indicator of prescription drug abuse.
