Prescription & Non-prescription Drugs
Prescription and over‑the‑counter (OTC) drugs are medications designed to treat illness and support health when used correctly. Prescription drugs are prescribed by a healthcare provider for a specific person and condition, while OTC drugs—such as pain relievers, cough medicines, and cold remedies—can be purchased without a prescription. Problems arise when these medications are misused, such as taking the wrong dose, using them for non‑medical reasons, sharing prescriptions, or mixing them with alcohol or other drugs. Misuse can lead to addiction, organ damage, dangerous interactions, overdose, and serious mental and physical health effects. Understanding the difference between proper use and problematic use helps people recognize that even legal medicines can be harmful when not used as directed.
- Mayo Clinic: Easy‑to‑understand articles on medication safety, misuse, and substance use disorders.
- WebMD: Commonly abused prescription and over-the-counter drugs.
- Poison Control (U.S.): Information about medication overdoses, interactions, and misuse, plus real‑time help resources.
- National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA): A overview of a research report on prescription drug misuse.
- U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA): Fact Card: Prescription Drug Misuse.
- U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA): Consumer-focused information on safe medication use, warnings, side effects, and misuse risks.
- MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine): Plain‑language health information about specific prescription and over‑the‑counter medications and their risks.