¶ … Prescription Drug Use Research Pradel, V., Delga, C., Rouby, F., Micallef, J. And Lapeyre-Mestre, M. (2010). Assessment of Abuse Potential of Benzodiazepines from a Prescription Database Using 'Doctor Shopping' as an Indicator. CNS Drugs, 24(7), 611-620.

This study involved assessing the potential for abuse of several benzodiazepines using so called doctor shopping and to recommend that a "doctor shopping indicator" statistic can be useful in reducing prevalence of prescription drug over-use.

McCabe, S.E., West, B.T., Morales, M., Cranford, J.A., Boyd, C.J. (2008). Does early onset of non-medical use of prescription drugs predict subsequent prescription drug abuse and dependence? Results from a national study. Addiction, 102, pgs. 1920 -- 1930 doi:10.1111/j.1360-0443.2007.02015.x

This study examined the associations between early onset of non-medical use of prescription drugs and the development of prescription drug abuse and dependence in the United States. Research participants comprised a nationally representative cross-sectional sample of civilian non-institutionalized adults aged 18 years or older in the United States with representative samples drawn from both gender and ethnic/racial criteria. Data were collected from structured diagnostic interviews. The researchers found that a higher percentage of individuals who began using prescription drugs non-medically at or before 13 years of age were found to have developed prescription drug abuse and dependence vs. those individuals who began using at or after 21 years of age.

Article 3:

Tetrault, J.M., Desai, R.A, Becker, W.C., Fiellin, D.A., Concato, J., Sullivan, L.E. (2007). Gender and non-medical use of prescription opioids: results from a national U.S. survey, Addiction, 103, 258 -- 268. doi:10.1111/j.1360-0443.2007.02056.x

This research involved examining risk factors for past-year non-medical use of prescription opioids stratified by gender using data obtained from the 2003 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. The researchers measured self-reported alcohol/drug use, with a research emphasis...

The researchers found that 4.8% of the 55, 023 respondents indicated past-year non-medical use of prescription opioids. Alcohol abuse/dependence and marijuana, hallucinogen, cocaine, non-medical stimulant and sedative/tranquilizer use were associated with past-year non-medical use of prescription opioids, regardless of gender. The researchers concluded that both men and women illicit drug use is associated with the non-medical use of prescription opioids.
Article 4:

Arkes, J. And Iguchi, M. (2008). How Predictors of Prescription Drug Abuse Vary by Age, Journal of Drug Issues, 1027-1044.

Researchers used the 2001 to 2003 National Survey on Drug Use and Health to estimate separate models across five age groups for the past year nonmedical use of prescription drugs. The results indicate that several factors (e.g., gender, race/ethnicity, marital status, other substance use) have quite different correlations with prescription drug abuse across age groups. This suggests that more accurate profiles of prescription drug abusers can be obtained by estimating separate models for different age groups.

Article 5:

Spoth, R., Trudeau, L., Shin, C., and Redmond, C. (2008). Long-term effects of universal preventive interventions on prescription drug misuse Addiction, 103, 1160 -- 1168 doi:10.1111/j.1360-0443.2008.02160.x

Consistent with intervention effects on other substance use outcomes, the researchers found that, using a non-randomized control group experimental design that universal interventions have potential for public health impact by reducing some types of prescription drug misuse among adolescents and young adults.

Article 6:

Rigg, K.K., March, S.J., Inciardi, J.A. (2010). Prescription Drug Abuse & Diversion: Role of the Pain Clinic. Journal of Drug Issues, 681-702.

Researchers sought to better understand the role that pain management clinics may be playing in the abuse and diversion of prescription drugs and explored the characteristics and practices of pain clinics that may be facilitating the drug-seeking endeavors of prescription drug abusers, as well as drug-seeking behaviors of prescription drug abusers who use pain clinics as a primary source for drugs.…