Use of pharmaceuticals for medical purposes

People use pharmaceutical drugs to prevent, diagnose, treat, or cure disease, or to manage problematic symptoms. Such use is considered sanctioned when it is consistent with a health professional’s instructions and is in accordance with the instructions on the drug label.

Use of pharmaceuticals for non-medical purposes

People may use pharmaceutical drugs for non-medical purposes for a range of reasons, including self-medication, management of withdrawal symptoms, enhancement of the effects of other substances, improving sleep, reducing anxiety, or seeking pleasurable effects.

Non-medical use occurs when a pharmaceutical drug is used without medical advice, or in a way that differs from the directions provided by a health professional or the product label. This may include:

• taking a higher dose than recommended or prescribed
• taking the medicine more often than directed
• using someone else’s prescribed medicine
• using the medicine for reasons other than those intended
• administering the medicine by a different route (for example, crushing and injecting or snorting tablets)
• using the medicine in combination with alcohol or other drugs.

Non-medical use of pharmaceutical drugs can increase the risk of adverse health effects, including poisoning, overdose, dependence, injury and death. The risk of harm is often greater when pharmaceutical drugs are used in combination with other substances, particularly alcohol, opioids and other sedative drugs.

For more information about pharmaceuticals visit DrugInfo.