Drug abuse is a topic that most people associate with hard drugs like cocaine or heroine.

However, you could be subjecting your body to a different kind of drug abuse and may not even be aware of it.

There's nothing wrong with taking over the counter drugs to treat a headache or calm your cough.

The problem occurs when you take more than the directed amount.

Pain killers like Advil and Motrin contain Ibuprofen and when you take too much, "you can run into concerns of renal impairment, renal insufficiency and also a major concern we have when those are taken in excess are gastric ulceration. They're very irritating on the lining of the stomach," says Bill Roberts, a pharmacist at SAMC.

Drugs like Tylenol, Midol and Sudafed have an active ingredient called Acetaminophen.

"From the liver standpoint and excess amounts it can do temporary and even permanent damage to the liver," says Roberts.

You'd be surprised how many over the counter medications contain Acetaminophen and the biggest overdosing problem comes when these drugs are mixed.

"They'll wind up taking two or three or four items and maybe each of them have acetaminophen in them, so they're getting an excess amount," says Pharmacist Glenn Northcutt.

"It's not always apparent that you've taken too much. Many times liver damage is being but it's not really realized until 24 to 36 hours down the road," says Roberts.

Check your labels and make sure you're not taking more than 4 grams total in 24 hours.