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, atypical drug of abuse. Atypical prescription abuse was discovered in a patient who had a history of alcohol and drug abuse. Clonidine produced a state that the patient identified as similar to the condition resulting from the use of opioids. This article offers a framework for identifying atypical prescription drug abuse and suggests guidelines for prevention and management.