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Prescription Drug Abuse Facts
It has been reported that an estimated 48 million people in the United States have used prescription drugs non-medically.

The greatest increases of fatal drug overdoses are not in urban areas, but in rural areas, with West Virginia showing the greatest increase at 550% from 1999 to 2004.

Teenagers and the elderly are the most vulnerable populations to prescription drug abuse. Over 1/3 of all elderly being prescribed medication will not follow the directions properly, leading to tolerance, dependence, and addiction.

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Teen Prescription Drug Abuse
on the Rise

Jay was a nationally ranked tennis player, a good student, well-groomed. His parents had no idea he was going to school and to practice -- walking right past their faces -- stoned on prescription drugs.

"Percocets, Oxycontin, Xanax, Vicodin, Ritalin, Adderall," he said, reeling off a list of just some of the drugs he tried since he began abusing drugs at age 13.

Jay, now 17, said he had "black eyes" and "lost a lot of weight" and probably hadn't showered in a month when he checked into The Right Step, a small drug and alcohol treatment clinic in Houston. At first, he didn't want to be there.

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West Virginia Prescription Drug Abuse Quitline
West Virginia University | P.O. Box 9190 | Morgantown WV | 26506 | Webmaster
Last Modified: November 19, 2008
© 2009 West Virginia University.