Prescription painkiller overdoses in the US
Contributors: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (U.S.). Division of Unintentional Injury Prevention
Series: CDC Vitalsigns; CDC vital signs
Publisher: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Published: 2011
Place of publication: [Atlanta, Ga.]
Language: eng
Subjects: Analgesics; Statistics; Overdose; Prevention; Opioid Analgesics; Poisoning; Mortality; Popular Works; Pain; Drug therapy; Prescription Drugs
Other titles: Prescription painkiller overdoses in the United States
Description: "Deaths from prescription painkillers have reached epidemic levels in the past decade. The number of overdose deaths is now greater than those of deaths from heroin and cocaine combined. A big part of the problem is nonmedical use of prescription painkillers--using drugs without a prescription, or using drugs just for the "high" they cause. In 2010, about 12 million Americans (age 12 or older) reported nonmedical use of prescription painkillers in the past year. Enough prescription painkillers were prescribed in 2010 to medicate every American adult around-the-clock for a month. Although most of these pills were prescribed for a medical purpose, many ended up in the hands of people who misused or abused them. Improving the way prescription painkillers are prescribed can reduce the number of people who misuse, abuse or overdose from these powerful drugs, while making sure patients have access to safe, effective treatment." -p. 1
Notes: Title from caption (viewed May 30, 2014).

"National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Division of Unintentional Injury Prevention."

"November 2011."

"Publication date: 11/01/2011"--Page 4.

"CS227796-B."

Includes bibliographical references.