Only hard-core drug addicts overdose, right?

Actually, this statement may be one of the most dangerous misconceptions driving the overdose epidemic in our country. In the United States, accidental overdose, which includes alcohol, illegal drugs and prescription drugs, has now overtaken motor vehicle crashes as the No. 1 cause of injury death (i.e., non-disease-related death, like falling or homicide).

Opioid pain relievers, like Oxycodone and Hydrocodone, currently account for more overdose deaths than cocaine and heroin combined. Prescribed for acute or chronic pain, these drugs provide relief for thousands of people. But, as with any drug, they carry the potential for abuse and overdose. In order to fight this growing epidemic, we must challenge misconceptions about overdose victims.

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