Anyone who takes prescription opioids can become addicted to them. In fact, as many as one in four patients receiving long-term opioid therapy in a primary care setting struggles with opioid addiction. Once addicted, it can be hard to stop. In 2014, nearly two million Americans either abused or were dependent on prescription opioid pain relievers. [...]

Research shows that some risk factors make people particularly vulnerable to prescription opioid abuse and overdose, including: Obtaining overlapping prescriptions from multiple providers and pharmacies. Taking high daily dosages of prescription pain relievers. Having mental illness or a history of alcohol or other substance abuse. Living in rural areas and having low income.

Providers wrote nearly a quarter of a billion opioid prescriptions in 2013—with wide variation across states. This is enough for every American adult to have their own bottle of pills. Health care providers in the highest prescribing state, Alabama, wrote almost three times as many of these prescriptions per person as those in the lowest prescribing [...]

Yes! Opioids (including prescription opioids, heroin, and fentanyl) killed more than 42,000 people in 2016, more than any year on record. 40% of all opioid overdose deaths involve a prescription opioid!