Prescription painkillers cause 44 fatal overdoses every day
Each day, 44 people in the United States die from overdose of prescription painkillers, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
A big part of the overdose problem results from prescription painkillers called opioids. These prescription painkillers can be used to treat moderate-to-severe pain and are often prescribed following a surgery, injury, or for health conditions such as cancer. In recent years, there has been a dramatic increase in the acceptance and use of prescription opioids for the treatment of chronic, non-cancer pain, such as back pain or osteoarthritis.