There are so many reasons not to abuse prescription drugs. Just think about it. It's painfully obvious.

Besides the physical problems caused by abusing prescription opioid analgesics, there is a good chance you may experience all kinds of other consequences:

• You could be arrested.
  Taking prescription medications that are not prescribed for you is against the law. While the laws vary from state to state, in many states, possession or sale of controlled substances (such as prescription opioid analgesics) is a felony. Penalties range from prison sentences to heavy fines or both.

• You could have your driver's license suspended or revoked.
  In many states, a controlled substance offense while driving (DUI — Driving Under the Influence) can result in an automatic suspension of driving privileges.

• You could lose some of the people you care most about most — your friends.
  Between addiction and death, there is lying, cheating and stealing. Being a thief, a liar and a drug abuser is not who you want to be and is not someone your friends will want to be with either.

• You could seriously affect your relationships with parents, your family and your teachers.
  It takes a long time to earn trust, and just one bad decision can destroy that trust for a long time.

• You could lose privileges you have worked hard to obtain.
  Like having a driver's license or going out on weekends with your friends. You could be asked to leave a club, or be told to give up your favorite activity.

• It is possible that you can be expelled from school.

• When you apply to college, you could be rejected for abusing drugs.

• You may even lose the chance to have the job or career you had always hoped for.

Abusing prescription opioid analgesics can harm your body, your mind and the rest of your life, too.

previous | next