Drug Seeking Behavior in ER Doubles, Feeds Growing Addiction to Pain Pills -- Emergency rooms continue to become a major resource for pain medication addicts; By MIKAELA CONLEY, ABC News Medical Unit -- Oct. 28, 2010 » More

Patients treated for pain conditions often receive an opioid analgesic and also take other prescription or non-Rx drugs, which can lead to opioid-drug interactions that have potential for adverse effects or even fatal outcomes. To avoid problems, prescribers need to be aware of all medications and other substances their patients are taking and the likelihood of toxicity resulting from their interaction. » More

The Food and Drug Administration, FDA, has approved the drug Vivitrol for the treatment of opioid dependence according to a news release by them on 10-12-2010. The National Institute on Drug Abuse says that about 810,000 people are addicted to heroin, and 1.85 million to painkillers like OxyContin. The numbers are probably much higher than this, however. You can read the full article at examiner.com » More