Due to the fact that prescription drugs are often perceived as a better and safer alternative to street drugs and alcohol abuse Michigan has experienced a sharp incline in the amount of students and teens who regularly consume the powerful drugs.  When misused prescription drugs are as potentially lethal as any street drug with side effects that include seizures, comas, strokes, addiction, and death in certain cases.

Michigan has the highest consumption rate of teen prescription drug use out of all of the US with 12% of teens reportedly misusing prescription drugs to get high on a regular basis.  Even with a slight decrease over the last few years of use Michigan still ranks high over the national average of 7%.  For students who are in college the figures are even more astounding with around 20% reported to misuse prescription drugs on a regular basis.  The following is a list of the most three prescription drugs misused in the state.

Pain killers

Pain killers are easily the most abused prescription drugs in most areas and the same is true of Michigan.  When taken incorrectly or in heavy amounts; notable narcotics such as Vicodin and Tylenol 3 can cause a euphoric state of mind. Due to the presence of the internet and their parent’s medicine cabinets teens claim the drugs are much easier to obtain then alcohol or marijuana.

ADHD medication and Ritalin

Among college students and adults who lead hectic lives abuse of the stimulant drugs Adderall and Ritalin is on the rise.  While some take the drugs in order to stay awake and alert longer or to help focus on the task at hand others choice to misuse the commonly prescribed drugs to get high by snorting the powders of the crushed pills.  The problem with ADHD medication in Michigan is that like elsewhere it is one of the most overprescribed medications making it easy to find within normal homes.

Cough medications

Finally, the third most abused medication actually comes from the counter of a local drugstore: cough medicines.  Due to the fact that cough syrups such as Robitussin and Nyquil are available at almost any pharmacy students drink the bottles in order to get a high.  The problem with cough medication abuse is that it is hard to control and easy to hide.