the impression I got was that its become a bit more structured than just raiding the medicine cabinet – bear in mind what we may be reading here in England is US tabloid news or from conservative/prohibitionist sources
if it were that bad I would have expected way more overdose deaths in the news..
I think its more combination of people doing a bit more research on the net (As there is lots of prescription drug info there) and diverting stuff from legitimate scripts, obtaining Rx meds illegaly via foreign pharmacies that have less strict controls. These people then gather together and take the drugs at house parties!
This side of the pond, NHS staff (and their friends/associates) were doing this 20-30 years ago until the govt wised up and clamped down..
Have to say modafinil sounds like interesting stuff..
