According to the 2008 National Drug Control Strategies Report, 71% of individuals abusing prescription pain medications obtained the medications from family members and friends. Among 12 to 13 year olds, prescription drug abuse exceeds marijuana use.

Irresponsible use of prescription medications hurts more than those who misuse the drugs. It hurts the nation's 75 million people living with pain who are at risk of having much-needed medicines restricted or pulled off the market. This will worsen an already difficult situation for pain patients, according to Dr. Albert Ray, chairman of The National Pain Foundation.

"Chronic pain remains under-treated in this country," says Ray. "Every morning millions of people wake up in pain, unable to work or just live their lives. The social and economic costs for society and people living in pain are enormous."

But lawmakers' commitment to helping people living with pain is hampered by what seems to be a trade-off between allowing continued access to pain relief and public safety from drug abuse. With greater awareness of the importance of safe and appropriate use of prescription medications this need not be the case.

The National Pain Foundation is committed to raising public awareness to curtail prescription drug abuse and thus ensure the availability of pain medication for the people who need it. Prescription drug abuse is preventable. People who take prescription pain medications and the medical community have a responsibility to help curb irresponsible drug use.

By law, your health care provider must help ensure that opioid medicines are not misused or given to people who should not have them. Here are some steps you can take to ensure you take your medications safely and ensure that those around do not abuse your medications.

• Never take a prescription pain medication unless it is prescribed to you.
   
• Lock up prescription painkillers to keep them out of other people's hands. It may be difficult to believe, but family members and friends are the most likely people to take your medications inappropriately. Locking up prescription medications and other medications also keeps them out of the hands of young children who can be seriously harmed by taking them.
   
• Never give your pain medications to someone else, for any reason. Your prescription pain medication was prescribed to you based on the history and physical assessment your health care provider made. It is not safe to share with other people.
   
• Do not take medicines other than those prescribed for you by your health care provider.
   
• Do not take pain medication with alcohol. Alcohol can cause dangerous side effects or even death when used with pain medication. Alcohol, like some medicines, can make you sleepy, drowsy, or lightheaded. Drinking alcohol while taking medicines can intensify these effects, and even lead to difficultly breathing or death.
   
• Do not combine sedatives or anti-anxiety drugs with pain medication. This can increase toxicity. Only take other medications, if directed by the health care provider who prescribed the pain medication.
   
• Do not use opioid (also called narcotic) medications as sleeping pills. This can suppress breathing during sleep.
   
• Always take your medicine as directed by your health care provider. Do not take more doses than prescribed. You may need to take it for a few weeks before you will know if it can help relieve your pain.
   
• Make a list of all your medications and bring it to each medical appointment. Tell your health care provider about all medicines you take. This includes OTC (over-the-counter), herbal, and homeopathic medicines, vitamin and mineral supplements and prescription medicines.
   
• Ask questions and tell your health care provider about the side effects that may be bothering you. Ask your health care provider about dose ranges, possible side effects, drug interactions and the probability of success of each medication that you take.
   
• Do not suddenly stop taking a medicine. If you do not think a medicine is working or you are bothered by its side effects, talk to your health care provider first. Some medicines can cause withdrawal symptoms if you stop them too quickly. Your health care provider can instruct you on how to stop a medicine or encourage you to give the medicine time to work.

Doctors and other members of the medical community can be particularly effective in preventing prescription drug abuse. About 180 million Americans age 18 or older consult their healthcare provider at least once a year. These visits are valuable opportunities for patient education and to screen for drug and alcohol abuse.

"It is up to each of us to make sure that irresponsible use of prescribed pain medications does not make it even more difficult for legitimate pain patients to have access to drugs that can greatly improve their quality of life," says Ray.