May 17, 2008
- Seattle, Washington
Study shows many people share prescription drugs
By Herb Weisbaum & ABC News
There are lots of things you can share with your friends or family members. Prescription drugs should not be on that list.
But according to a just released study, a surprisingly high percentage of Americans admits to sharing prescription medications. Researchers surveyed 700 adults and found that 160 - or nearly a quarter - said they had shared their medicines with someone else. Slightly more than one quarter admitted to taking prescription drugs from friends at least once in the past. "Allergy medicines such as Claritin or Allegra, and pain killers such as Darvoset were among the drugs most often shared," said ABC News Medical Editor Dr. Timothy Johnson. "But people said they also shared antibiotics, mood medications such as Paxil or Ritalin, and even birth control pills." Johnson says it's a bad idea to loan or borrow prescription drugs because it leaves you vulnerable to potentially dangerous drug interactions and side effects. The study found people weren't trying to abuse the drugs - they wanted to be helpful - but sharing drugs is never a good idea. If you think you need a prescription, see your doctor. |
This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled.
Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.
KOMO Weather
Current Temp
77 °F
Fair
Wind
:
From the South at 6 MPH
Humidity
:
40 %
Pressure
:
30.06" (1018.4 mb)
TrafficTraffic AlertNorth Cascades Highway (S.R. 20) is closed due to high avalanche danger through the weekend. Crews will return on Monday to assess road conditions. The state DOT advises drivers to check mountain pass conditions for all passes before leaving this weekend. |
Most Popular
Connect with KOMO |
You
