GOVERNMENT FEARS ABUSE OF MEDICATION

WASHINGTON - Four million Americans are abusing prescription drugs,
including sleep-deprived people who become addicted to sedatives and family
members who sell spare pills on the street, the government says.

Pharmaceuticals designed to relieve pain, calm stress or bring on sleep
provide great benefit for millions, but when the drugs are used for
non-medical reasons they can lead to addiction and damaged health, said
Alan I. Leshner, head of the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Leshner announced Tuesday that the NIDA and seven organizations
representing the elderly, pharmacies, drug manufacturers and patients are
starting a campaign to combat what he called "a dangerous new drug abuse
trend" - the nonmedical use of prescriptions.