There is no standard definition of the non-medical use of prescription drugs in the empirical literature. However, there are some common definitions that will assist you in understanding the parameters of the non-medical use of prescription drugs.

Nonmedical Use of Prescription Drugs

National surveys use slightly different definitions of nonmedical use of prescription drugs:

There are 4 subtypes of non-medical prescription drug use that are recognized by Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Rollover each subtype below to learn more.