Information on the misuse
and abuse of prescription and
over-the-counter medicines
Prescription and over-the-counter medicines have made a significant and
positive contribution to the health and wellbeing of Australians. However,
nearly all medicines have the potential to cause harm, and when they are
misused or abused the consequences can be dangerous and even fatal.
What is a medicine?
Over-the-counter medicines
A medicine is any drug that is used to treat medical
Over-the-counter medicines can be used
conditions. Medicines include prescription and nonprescription or over-the-counter medicines.
effectively to treat illnesses such as common colds,
Prescription medicines
Prescription medicines are those that are
prescribed by doctors for a particular person. Once
a doctor has written a prescription, a patient needs
to go to a pharmacy to obtain the medicine.
pain, sinusitis, allergies and minor eye and ear
problems. However, as with all drugs, over-thecounter medicines should be used with caution.
The difference between misuse and
abuse
Prescription and over-the-counter medicines can
be both misused and abused. A person with a valid
drug prescription or over-the-counter medicine can
misuse it if he or she doesn’t follow the directions
properly.
Abuse means that a person, with or without a
What should I do if I think or find out
that my child is misusing or abusing
prescription or over-the-counter
medicines?
Think through what is happening. Strong reactions
due to fear are common but they don’t help.

used, how they are being used and why your
prescription, intentionally takes a medicine to get
child is using them. The best way to find out is
to ask your child.
‘high’ or for some reason other than what the
medicine is intended to treat.
Both misuse and abuse of prescription and over-

medicines in Australia costs approximately $380m
per year in the public hospital system.
Effects of the misuse or abuse of
prescription and over-the-counter
medicines
Try to separate the behaviour from the
person. You may not approve but you still
the-counter medicines are very dangerous and can
have the same dangerous consequences.
It has been estimated that the inappropriate use of
Find out what kinds of medicines are being
need to tell them and show them that you
love, care and value them.

Get the facts on the particular prescription or
over-the-counter medicine by contacting the
Queensland Health Alcohol and Drug
Information Service (24 hours) on
(07) 3236 2414 or 1800 177 833.

It is important that your child is clearly aware
of what is likely to happen if they continue to
The effects of the misuse or abuse of prescription
misuse or abuse prescription or over-the-
and over-the-counter medicines will be specific to
counter medicines such as the effect on their
the medicine taken so a person might become
health and wellbeing, family relationships,
education and future chances of employment.
drowsy or stimulated, anxious or sedated, or show
none of these effects. Changes in behaviour or
moods may indicate misuse or abuse of medicines.
Need more information?
However, behaviour changes in teenagers are not
uncommon.
For more information on the misuse or abuse of
Why do young people misuse or
abuse medicines?
prescription and over-the-counter medicines
contact the Queensland Health Alcohol and Drug
Information Service (24 hours) on (07) 3236 2414
or 1800 177 833.
Young people who deliberately misuse or abuse
Information on drug education in schools such as
prescription and over-the-counter medicines may
managing drug related incidents, implementing
do so for a number of reasons. Some of them want
drug education programs and accessing
to experiment with new things and test limits.
professional development opportunities can be
Some may want to become intoxicated or personal
found at the Queensland School Drug Education
or family-related stress may be a major reason.
Strategy website www.education.qld.gov.au/healthsafety/promotion/drug-education
Others may use prescription and over-the-counter
medicines when they are unable to obtain their
illicit drug of choice.
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