The best way to prevent prescription drug abuse is to educate yourself and others on the issue and the dangers associated with it. If you believe someone you know is abusing prescription drugs, check for these signs:

• Fatigue, red or glazed eyes, and repeated health complaints
• Sudden mood changes, including irritability, negative attitude, personality changes, and general lack of interest in hobbies/activities
• Secretiveness and withdrawing from family
• Decreased or obsessive interest in school work
• Missing prescription medicines from your medicine cabinet
• Additional filled prescriptions on your pharmacy record that you did not order

For more information about prescription medicine abuse, visit The Medicine Abuse Project at MedicineAbuseProject.org

(*Fact sheet courtesy of drugfree.org and the Medicine Abuse Project.)