title: Prescription drug misuse: a growing national problem.
abstract: Misuse of prescription drugs has been a growing problem in the United States affecting all age groups, including adolescents. Recent years have produced many advances in medical management of chronic pain, depression and anxiety, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Many of the medications used to treat these disorders, such as the opioids, benzodiazepines, and psychostimulants, also have potential for abuse and dependence. The challenge for the clinician today is to maximize safe and effective treatment with available medication, while preventing the diversion of prescribed medication or the development of substance-related disorders in patients receiving these medications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA. hertzj@childpsych.columbia.edu
authors.forename: Jonathan A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hertz
authors.forename: John R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Knight
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D015897:Comorbidity; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D006801:Humans; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology