Prescription drug abuse is the use of medication contrary the doctor’s prescription and advice. It could be taking it in unusually high dosages or taking it when one is not suffering from the condition or disease in which it is not indicated for treatment.
Some cases of abuse of prescription drugs are not entirely intentional. Some patients may develop addiction and craving to particular prescription medication while such medication was in the first place prescribed by a doctor for treating particaulr medical condition.
How prevalent is the problem?
The prescription drug abuse is very common problem in the US and in several other countries across the world. For example, in 2010 medical studies show that about 7 million people in the US (equivalent to about 2.7% of the total population of the country) were active abusers of prescription psychotherapeutic drugs. The 2009 estimate was similar to that of 2010.
