Deaths from drug overdoses in the United States have more than tripled since 1990. In fact, they have increased six fold since 1980. 30,000-40,000 people die every year from drug overdoses, the majority of which are related to prescription medications. A recent report from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) shows that 40 people die each day in the U.S. from prescription painkiller abuse, a number that appears to be increasing every year.

While the overdoses can be intentional, accidental drug overdoses are actually quite common. Prescription drugs became prevalent in the early 90’s when doctors began changing how pain is typically treated. A more aggressive treatment approach started with the proliferation of prescription pain-killing medications. With more drugs circulating, over-consumption is an inevitable effect. A person who is abusing prescription painkillers takes larger doses to achieve a euphoric effect and reduce withdrawal symptoms. The increased consumption causes breathing to slow so much that it eventually stops, resulting in a fatal overdose.

People often believe that because a medication is legally prescribed by a doctor it is harmless when compared to typical “street drugs”. This misconception is the foundation of so many cases of overdose and accidents related to prescription drugs. The chemicals and active components of many drugs are toxic in high amounts, even to the point where side effects with normal dosages are commonplace. A lack of education concerning safe medicinal practice coupled with the propagation of fraudulent doctors and pharmaceutical distributors known as “pill mills” has contributed to the increase of drug-related deaths.

There are a few options for decreasing the prevalence of drug-related deaths every year; however, it is somewhat limited to education and regulation. Obviously, prescription drugs are not going to be eliminated as they are truly necessary for people who suffer from chronic pain. Stricter regulation is being imposed particularly in states such as Florida where prescription drugs are easily procurable. Education is equally important as most incidents can be prevented with the right knowledge. If you are prescribed pain-killers or other drugs make sure your physician completely explains everything about the drug and its effects. If you have children around, be sure to store and secure any medication and inform them about the dangers of drugs and medication. With a few simple precautions, we can all help contribute to a decline in unnecessary deaths every year.