Commonly Abused Meds: Amphetamines, Methylphenidate and OTCs
It is now a known fact that drug abuse has crossed over from illicit substances into legitimate medication, where some prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs are now being used for purposes other than those which they were developed for.
Amphetamines are stimulants that raise alertness and energy. These medications are usually prescribed to treat narcolepsy, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and depression, for patients who do not respond to other treatments.
Among the drugs in this group are the ADHD medications Dexedrine and Adderall. These drugs are usually abused by people who would are looking to experience euphoria. Among its aliases are “bennies,” “black beauties,” and “speed.”
Unfortunately, abusing these drugs carries associated risks, including fast and irregular heartbeat, reduced appetite, heart failure, nervousness, and insomnia.
Another stimulant, which is found in the ADHD drugs Ritalin, Concerta, Metadate, and Methylin, is methylphenidate, also known as “MPH,” “R-ball,” “Skippy,” “the smart drug,” and “vitamin R.” Among its known risks are having an irregular heartbeat, and the possibility of suffering from cardiovascular failure or lethal seizures.
Beyond prescription drugs, however, there are people who abuse the more readily-accessible OTC drugs. These include dextromethorphan (DXM), also known as “Orange Crush,” “Triple Cs,” and “Skittles,” which is the active ingredient in OTC cough and cold medicines. Large doses of DXM may lead to impaired judgment and euphoria.
Another commonly-abused OTC is pseudoephedrine, which is commonly found in cold medicines. Pseudoephedrine is an ingredient in the production of methamphetamine (meth), hence, there is a limit to the number of drugs with pseudoephedrine that could be purchased at a time.
Tags: adderall abuse, concerta abuse, OTC drug abuse, prescription drug abuse, ritalin abuse
