While the use of prescripction drugs when they are prescribed to the user is perfectly legal, many people ilegally obtain prescription drugs, or use them in a way other than prescribed, to experience the sensation or effect that a prescription drug may cause. Prescription drugs act on the brain in the same way many other ilegal drugs do, thus prescription drugs are just as liable to cause addiction as other ilegal drugs.

Commonly abused prescription drugs include: Dilaudid, Lorcet, Lortab, OxyContin, oxycodone, Percocet, Vicodin, Valium, Librium, Xanax, Adderall, Concerta, Ritalin.