Opioid painkiller overload

“More than 5 million Americans currently use pain-relieving medications like Vicodin, OxyContin and Percocet for nonmedical reasons, according to the 2007 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The problem is particularly high widespread among adolescents. A survey performed by the National Institute on Drug Abuse in 2007 found that almost 1 in 10 high school students had used prescription pain relievers in the past year without a doctor’s supervision.”

http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-he-themd11-2010jan11,0,5556778.story