Not all medications that pose a risk of abuse or diversion are scheduled medications. Several commonly prescribed medications are not controlled and are not identified by the DEA, yet they present a substantial risk of misuse or diversion by incarcerated patients for non-therapeutic reasons. We will examine the pharmacological similarities to illicit drugs and the impact on patient safety.

Educational Objectives:

• Recognize five non-scheduled prescription medications that are at risk of abuse
• Discuss the psychoactive effects of commonly abused non-scheduled prescription medications
• Identify warning signs for misuse of non-scheduled medications