Many people think of drugs as a teen problem. However, research from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services shows that it is increasingly becoming a problem among older adults.

The number of patients between the ages of 45 and 64 being treated for medication and illicit drug conditions increased more than 100 percent between 1997 and 2008.

HHS Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administrator Pamela Hyde says this is a negative trend.

"Substance abuse is rising, and drug abuse of all kinds is exploding as a major public health concern for our country," says Hyde. "The challenge for our health care practitioners is to see that patients receive medications when there is medical need but also to help prevent the adverse health consequences from drug use."

The National Institute on Drug Abuse notes that many medications are beneficial for patients when taken properly. Adverse health consequences can arise, including addiction, when patients don't take medications according to physicians' orders. They note that the most commonly abused medications fall into three categories: opioids, CNS depressants, stimulants.