Prescription drug abuse in Europe is a bigger problem than previously thought
Nonmedical prescription drug use is typically defined as either the self-treatment of a medical condition using prescription medication that was not prescribed to the user, or as the use of prescription medication to achieve euphoric states. A research team led by scientists at RTI International in the US investigated nonmedical prescription drug use as it is among the leading public health issues in the US and previous research has suggested that it is more widespread there than in the EU, where prevalence and user characteristics remain largely unknown. Dr Scott Novak, lead author of the study, said: "This is the first comparative study of prescription drug abuse in the European Union. Previously it was thought that the prescription drug epidemic was limited to the United States, but this study shows that the epidemic extends well beyond the US." Examining three different classes of subscription drug -- opioids, sedatives and stimulants -- the researchers found tha