Prescription drugs are deadlier than cars. (emphasis mine)
Among the most commonly abused are OxyContin, Vicodin, Xanax and Soma. A relative newcomer to the scene is Fentanyl, a painkiller that comes in the form of patches and lollipops and is 100 times as powerful as morphine. Such drugs now cause more deaths than heroin and cocaine combined.
Later in the article:
The most commonly abused prescription drug, hydrocodone, also is the most widely prescribed drug in America, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency. Better known as Vicodin, the pain reliever is prescribed more often than the top cholesterol drug and the top antibiotic.
Cleaning the medicine cabinet
Are there any unused prescription drugs in your medicine cabinet that could be abused or stolen? A new Indiana law allows Hoosiers to return unused drugs. If a take back programs is not available, the FDA recommends:
- Mix medicines (do NOT crush tablets or capsules) with an unpalatable substance such as kitty litter or used coffee grounds;
- Place the mixture in a container such as a sealed plastic bag; and
- Throw the container in your household trash
Images source: Wikipedia commons