World high on prescriptions?

In certain parts of Africa, Europe and South Asia, prescription drug abuse has already overtaken the use of illegal drugs such as cocaine, Ecstasy and heroin, said the board's annual report for 2006, the Associated Press reported.

The Vienna-based board said that in the United States, abuse of painkillers, stimulants and tranquilizers currently exceeds the use of practically all illegal drugs, with the exception of marijuana.

In 2003, 15.1 million Americans abused prescription drugs, compared to 7.8 million in 1992.

The board report noted that this trend toward abuse of prescription drugs has generated a dangerous new trade in counterfeit painkillers, sedatives and other medicines that can seriously harm or kill people, the AP reported. – (HealthDayNews)

March 2007