The 15 Most Addictive Prescription Medications

Key takeaways:

• Some prescription medications may work well to treat medical conditions, but they also can carry a risk of dependence and misuse.
• The most commonly prescribed habit-forming prescription medications are opioids, central nervous system (CNS) depressants, and stimulants.
• Resources are available if you need help managing medication dependence or treating substance use disorder (SUD).

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Prescription medications are often prescribed to treat various medical conditions. Unfortunately, they can also carry some serious risks. Certain prescription medications can be habit-forming or addictive and lead to misuse.

Misuse of a prescription medication means taking it in a way that is different than what was originally prescribed. It is estimated that 18 million people in the U.S. have misused prescription medications in the past year. This is a big problem and can be dangerous. Medication misuse can lead to multiple short- and long-term health consequences. For example, in the short term, opioids can cause drowsiness and nausea. With long-term use, opioids can cause constipation and trouble breathing. 

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Written by Nicole E. Cieri-Hutcherson, PharmD, BCPS, NCMP | Reviewed by Joshua Murdock, PharmD, BCBBS

Published on July 2, 2021