ATYPICAL DRUG-ABUSE - A CASE-REPORT INVOLVING CLONIDINE

Prescription drug abuse can involve medications not usually considered to have addictive potential. Clonidine is a rare, but important, atyp ical drug of abuse. Atypical prescription abuse was discovered in a pa tient who had a history of alcohol and drug abuse. Clonidine produced a state that the patient identified as similar to the condition result ing from the use of opioids. This article offers a framework for ident ifying atypical prescription drug abuse and suggests guidelines for pr evention and management.