What you can do
The Facts
There are more deaths from overdoses of prescription opioid painkillers than cocaine and heroin.
Source: The Partnership for a Drug Free America
67% of young adults who used prescription painkillers non-medically in the past year obtained the medications from a friend or relative for free.
Source: 2005 National Survey on Drug Abuse and Health
The number of teens who reported using prescription drugs has increased 30% since 2002.
Source: National Institute on Drug Abuse
The number of people abusing controlled prescription drugs increased 7x faster than the increase in the US. population from 1992 to 2003.
Source: National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse
4 out of 5 of the most abused narcotics in high schools are prescription drugs.
Source: Partnership for a Drug Free America
40% of teens surveyed believed that prescription and over-the-counter medications are safer to use than illegal drugs.
Source: The Office of National Drug Control Policy
6 million Americans are abusing prescription drugs; more than the number of Americans abusing cocaine, heroin, hallucinogenics and inhalants combined.
Source: Drug Enforcement Administration