What are the Symptoms of Prescription Drug Misuse?

Prescription drug misuse can be identified by looking for symptoms based on the type of drug that is being abused. Health risks due to prescription drug abuse can be dangerous and even deadly. For example, in painkiller abuse, breathing can slow or even stop. Depressant abuse can result in seizures, respiratory depression, and decreased heart rate. Stimulant abuse can lead to high body temperature, irregular heart rate, cardiovascular system failure, and seizures. Those who misuse or abuse prescription drugs often take them with other substances, such as alcohol, which can lead to dangerous drug interactions.

While warning signs for prescription drug abuse vary with the type and amount of drug taken, key signs and symptoms include the following:

• Constricted pupils, slurred speech, flushed skin, sweating, and loss of appetite
• Personality changes, mood swings, irritability, excessive energy, sleepiness or avoiding sleep, forgetfulness, or clumsiness
• Increasingly acting secretive, losing interest in personal appearance, borrowing money or having extra cash, skipping classes, or not doing well in school
• Missing pills or the presence of unfamiliar pills or empty cough and cold medicine bottles or packages
• Running out of medication too quickly, losing pills, or requesting refills

Prescription and OTC drug misuse is different, however, from other drug abuse in that prescription and OTC drug abusers often appear functional-they do not always exhibit the same extremes of external erratic behavior as do users of cocaine or heroin, for examples. The American Council for Drug Education⁴ provides the following symptoms exhibited by users of drugs:

Drug Specific Symptoms:

• Marijuana: Glassy, red eyes; loud talking and inappropriate laughter followed by sleepiness; a sweet burnt scent; loss of interest, motivation; weight gain or loss.
• Alcohol: Clumsiness; difficulty walking; slurred speech; sleepiness; poor judgment; dilated pupils; possession of a false ID card.
• Depressants: (including barbiturates and tranquilizers) Seems drunk as if from alcohol but without the associated odor of alcohol; difficulty concentrating; clumsiness; poor judgment; slurred speech; sleepiness; and contracted pupils.
• Stimulants: Hyperactivity; euphoria; irritability; anxiety; excessive talking followed by depression or excessive sleeping at odd times; may go long periods of time without eating or sleeping; dilated pupils; weight loss; dry mouth and nose.
• Inhalants: (Glues, aerosols, and vapors ) Watery eyes; impaired vision, memory and thought; secretions from the nose or rashes around the nose and mouth; headaches and nausea; appearance of intoxication; drowsiness; poor muscle control; changes in appetite; anxiety; irritability; an unusual number of spray cans in the trash.
• Hallucinogens: Dilated pupils; bizarre and irrational behavior including paranoia, aggression, hallucinations; mood swings; detachment from people; absorption with self or other objects, slurred speech; confusion.
• Heroin: Needle marks; sleeping at unusual times; sweating; vomiting; coughing and sniffling; twitching; loss of appetite; contracted pupils; no response of pupils to light.
• Tobacco/Nicotine: Smell of tobacco; stained fingers or teeth.

Go to Providing Training and Education, for more information on how to identify prescription drug misuse.