Ace the Alcohol and Drug Counselor Exam 2025 – Conquer Your Counseling Career with Confidence!

Prescription drug abuse is characterized by the misuse of medication, which includes actions that deviate from how the medication was intended to be used. Taking leftover medication for new issues exemplifies this misuse because it involves using a prescribed medication without consulting a healthcare professional, even if the medication was originally prescribed for a legitimate purpose. This practice can lead to inappropriate treatment for new conditions and potential health risks due to drug interactions or misuse of dosage.

Using medication as prescribed is not considered abuse; it reflects responsible use. Sharing medication with friends is also a form of abuse as it involves distributing prescribed medication to someone other than the individual it was intended for, which can contribute to a host of unwanted effects and risks.

Using medication longer than directed can be problematic and may lead to dependency or increased side effects; however, it does not encompass the full scope of prescription drug abuse as clearly as taking leftover medication for new issues, which explicitly highlights the deviation from appropriate use and medical guidance.