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Across the United States, 40 people die each day because of overdosing on narcotic prescription medications. The most commonly abused prescription drugs are:
* opioid painkillers like Vicodin and codeine
* depressants, or medicines to treat anxiety and aid sleep, such as Valium and Xanax
* stimulants used to treat ADHD, such as Adderall and Ritalin
APHA supports prescription drug monitoring programs as one way to fight the epidemic. Find out more about the problem and how public health is responding.
APHA poster: "Prescription Drug Abuse, An American Epidemic" (PDF)
Case studies: Learn about prescription drug overdose prevention in Florida, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont and Washington (all are PDFs)
uses real-life examples to educate Americans about the dangers of prescription opioids.
APHA Policy Statements:
An Equitable Response to the Ongoing Opioid Crisis
Reducing Opioid Overdose through Education and Naloxone Distribution
Defining and Implementing a Public Health Response to Drug Use and Misuse
Webinar: Prescription Drug Overdose Prevention
The Nation's Health:
American Journal of Public Health:
APHA is part of the , which supports policies to reduce abuse and promote treatment options.