__________________ are more popular recreational drugs than heroin.

• A. Prescription anti-psychotics
• B. Prescription narcotics
• C. Prescription anti-depressants
• D. Prescription hallucinogenics

Answer: (B)

Recreational use patterns show that prescription narcotics are more commonly misused than heroin because they are widely available, often legally prescribed, and can be obtained through sharing or diversion. Opioid medications such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, morphine, and others are prescribed for pain, so many people already have access or know someone who does. This ready accessibility lowers barriers to misuse and makes these drugs a common entry point for nonmedical use.

Pill form also feels less intimidating than street drugs for some users, and people may perceive them as safer or more familiar, even though they carry a high risk of dependence, overdose, and other harm. When misused, these prescription opioids can be crushed and snorted or dissolved and injected to intensify effects, which further increases their appeal in recreational contexts.

Data from surveys and substance-use research often show higher rates of past-year nonmedical use of prescription opioids compared with heroin among various populations, reflecting their greater availability and the broader supply network. Other options—such as prescription anti-psychotics, anti-depressants, or hallucinogens—are not reported as commonly misused on a population level as prescription narcotics, so they don’t fit the pattern as well.