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Gabapentin has become one of the most popularly prescribed as well as popularly used prescription medications in the U.S. The anticonvulsant is used to help treat seizures, restless leg syndrome, post-herpetic neuralgia, nerve pain and others for other off-label purposes such as fibromyalgia and migraines. It is generally a well-tolerated medication with a very low risk of dependence and abuse. Prescription use of gabapentin has significantly increased throughout the past decade with recent studies showing a growing trend in illicit use, abuse and accidental overdose-related deaths associated with the drug.

Some of the most addictive mind-altering substances can fall under two main categories of drugs: stimulants and depressants. These types of drugs interact with a person’s central nervous system and throw off the chemical balance of the body and brain producing both physical and psychological impact. Stimulants work by speeding up activity in the brain and body. Depressants work in the opposite and slow down physical functions and cognitive processing. There are in fact many different classifications of drugs. However, the two most commonly known types of addictive drugs are stimulants and depressants.

Alcohol and underage drinking is nothing new. In fact, alcohol is one of the most commonly abused substances among teens, adolescents and young adults, according to data and research conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This is due to many factors, which include accessibility, availability, and social and cultural influences. Underage drinking is responsible for more than an estimated 4300 deaths each year. According to a 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, an estimated 33.1% of people between the ages of 12 to 20 years old, reported having tried drinking alcohol at least once in their lifetime. This accounts for about 12.6 million people in the U.S. On a global scale, 22% of males and 5% of females reported binge drinking during their adolescent years.

End stage alcoholism is the final and often the most destructive and dangerous stage of alcoholism. By the time a person has reached end stage alcoholism, alcohol and drinking have taken over their lives negatively impacting their relationships with others, career, finances and overall well-being. Alcoholism is a progressive mental health disease that involves the excessive consumption of alcohol to the extent of causing physical, psychological and social harm to a person. Alcoholism is also referred to as having an alcohol use disorder. Alcohol use disorder contributes to an estimated 88,000 deaths annually in the U.S. alone. This makes it the third leading preventable cause of death in the nation.

In 2021, Gabapentin was ranked among the top 10 most prescribed medications in the U.S. In fact, it was reported as the 6th most prescribed drug in the nation. Gabapentin was initially approved in 1993 by the FDA for the treatment of epilepsy and was marketed as a medication that is well tolerated, and effective with a low potential for abuse. Today research has found the medication has the ability to tackle a wide range of ailments, which has helped make it one of the most popular medications in the nation. The drug is easily prescribed without restriction with users being prescribed a wide range of doses. The flexibility in treatment use along with overprescribing and ease of accessibility, have contributed to the growing concern of gabapentin abuse.

Methamphetamines and Adderall are both stimulant drugs. They both fall under the stimulant amphetamine drug family. Stimulant amphetamine drugs such as Adderall and meth are common drugs prescribed to treat neurodivergent disorders such as ADHD, to help people stabilize restless thought patterns as well as improve concentration and focus. Meth and Adderall are chemically similar in structure. They are often referred to as cousins.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, methamphetamine is considered to be a significant drug of abuse with about 1.5 million Americans having a meth use disorder during 2020. Methamphetamine is a lab-made psychomotor stimulant drug with a high potential for addiction. The Schedule II controlled substance is only legally available through a non-refillable prescription used to treat symptoms of ADHD and short-term treatment of obesity. Most often, meth is manufactured illicitly through common ingredients such as pseudoephedrine, acetone, paint thinner, battery acid, lithium, drain cleaner, iodine, and ether.

Cocaine is one of the most addictive substances and can produce mental and emotional side effects when taken in excess. Cocaine is a strong central nervous system stimulant drug that interferes with the re-absorption of dopamine, a neurochemical associated with functions such as pleasure and movement. It speeds up the activity in your brain to produce feelings of alertness, intense energy and euphoria. Because cocaine impacts the dopamine levels in the brain, unnatural and excessive amounts of dopamine can also cause adverse effects such as anger, aggressiveness, hallucinations and delusions.

Alcohol poisoning is a condition in which a person consumes excessive amounts of alcohol to the point where the body is unable to efficiently process it causing a toxic build-up of the substance. The body is able to quickly absorb alcohol. However, it can take some time for it to metabolize and expel the substance because it is processed in the liver. Alcohol poisoning can become life-threatening if too much alcohol is consumed too quickly. When this occurs, the liver is unable to work as quickly or efficiently to remove the alcohol. In fact, a person can consume a fatal dose of alcohol even before passing out and even when they are unconscious or they stop drinking. In this case, the stomach can continue to release alcohol into the bloodstream and continually increase the level of alcohol in the body.

Adderall and Ritalin are prescription stimulants used to treat symptoms of ADHD. Due to the nature of the drug, they carry a high potential for abuse and dependence and have been labeled as Schedule II controlled substances. These prescription stimulants are often abused by young professionals and students to help them improve productivity. It is also abused by athletes to help them enhance their physical performance. In fact, Adderall is used by an estimated 76% of stimulant abusers and Ritalin is used by an estimated 24.5% of stimulant abusers. Due to its widespread availability and accessibility, recent studies have shown a significant increase in Ritalin abuse and addiction.