How to Identify Prescription Drugs

Prescription drugs are the new substances on the market that are getting teens and adults high. They are just as addictive as cocaine and other drugs that the public used to frown upon. So now, it is important for people to know how to identify prescription drugs, just in case the person closest to them is developing a destructive habit. It truly is a matter of life or death.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Check for a smell. Prescribed drugs have higher dosages of chemicals than over-the-counter products. As a result, they often have an odor to them.

2. Look for color. The average over-the-counter drug is a white pill. However, this is not true of prescription drugs. They come in all of the colors of the rainbow. So any pills that have bright colors are most likely prescribed from a doctor.

3. Scan the bottle. Prescription drugs come in clear orange bottles with unique labels on them. You will see that doctor’s and patient’s name on the label which is a dead give away.

4. Do a taste test. Don’t swallow the whole pill. Just break it up and dab a finger in it. Wait a minute or two. If you have a bitter aftertaste, the pill is not a prescription drug.

5. Examine the size of the pill. Most over-the-counter drugs come in similar oval or oblong sizes. Anything that is outside of this realm is usually a drug prescribed from a doctor.

Tips & Warnings

• Go with your gut. If you think a person is abusing prescription drugs, most likely she is.
• Don't wait to confront the person who is potentially abusing prescription drugs about her habit.

Resources

• How to Visually Identify Prescription Drugs