A prescription drug is a licensed medicine that is regulated by legislation to require a prescription before it can be obtained. The term is used to distinguish it from over-the-counter which are medicinal drugs that can be obtained without a prescription.
Dispensation of prescription drugs often includes a package insert or a patient information leaflet that gives detailed information about the drug.
Commonly abused Drugs
Opioids and pain killers
What are opioids?
Opioids are commonly prescribed because of their effective pain-relieving, properties§
Medications that fall within§ this class-referred to as prescription narcotics-include morphine The term use of opioids leads yor to physical dependence and addiction.
(e.g., Kadian, Avinza), codeine, oxycodone (e.g., OxyContin, Percodan, Percocet), and related drugs.
How do opioids affect my brain and body?
Opioids act on your brain§ and body by attaching to specific proteins called opioid receptors, which are found in the brain, spinal cord, and gastrointestinal tract.
When these drugs attach to certain opioid receptors, they can block the perception of pain.
Opioids can make your drowsy, produce nausea, and constipation.
Depending upon the amount of drug taken opioids can depress your respiration.
Opioid drugs also can induce euphoria by affecting the brain regions that mediate what we perceive as pleasure.
What happens to me when I am using opioids?
Taken as directed, opioids can be used to manage pain effectively.
The properly managed, short-term medical use of opioid drugs does not lead you to addiction
If you take a large single dose of an opioid you risk suffering severe respiratory depression that can lead to death.