Managing Your Pain: How to Use Prescription Drugs Without Becoming Addicted

By January W. Payne

“Michael Jackson’s death has brought renewed attention to prescription drug abuse, which has long been a problem for everyday Americans as well as pill-popping celebrities. About 48 million people, or 20 percent of Americans over age 12, have taken prescription medications—often, the painkillers called opioids—for nonmedical reasons, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, and seniors are particularly vulnerable since they often juggle many medications. Those prescription opioids cause more drug overdose deaths than heroin and cocaine combined, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration. “

http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/pain/2009/10/26/managing-your-pain-how-to-use-prescription-drugs-without-becoming-addicted.html