New Drug of Abuse: Gabapentin

Gabapentin is increasingly being used by patients in methadone maintenance programs to get a high.

Increasing availability, infrequent drug testing, and potentiation of euphoria when combined with opioids have likely all contributed to gabapentin misuse.

• Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) data show that ED visits involving the nonmedical use of gabapentin have increased by 90% in the United States since 2008. 
• DAWN data also suggest that 20% of patients in treatment may misuse or abuse gabapentin.

Meanwhile, there has been a rise in gabapentin prescribing.

Current advice on prescribing Gabapentin: use caution. Don't necessarily avoid prescribing it, but be careful and prescribe it from visit to visit. Don't just give somebody six refills and say you will see them in 6 months.

source: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/855819?nlid=93367_2982, (Medscape Medical News from the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry (AAAP) 26th Annual Meeting)