Pressure is being applied to pill mills on the heels of one of the biggest prescription drug raids in U.S. history.
Pill mills are offices or pharmacies where doctors hand out prescription meds for non-medical reasons, and the DEA recently raided outfits in four states, arresting hundreds. For every suspected prescription-drug trafficker, there are dozens of Americans who abuse pills daily.
Scottie is a recovered addict, and says his drug problem began small.
"It started with one or two Percocet, here and there, and ended up being 80 milligram of oxys for several years," said Scottie
Doctors prescribed him Percocet after a back surgery, which led to a 12-year addiction. Scottie's road to recovery began after receiving help at an outpatient treatment center.
One national study reveals an increase in admissions to substance-abuse treatment facilities between 2003 and 2013.
Medical professionals say Scottie's story with prescription pills is not unique. Arthur Schut-- CEO of Denver-based treatment center Arapahoe House-- says there are misconceptions about medicine.
"People think prescription drugs are very safe because they're given to you by a physician, and since they're very safe--if one doesn't quite do the trick, then maybe two would do the trick," said Schut.
The problem is so widespread, the DEA launched it's largest operation in the agency's history. Operation "Pilluted" arrested hundreds of doctors and staffers in Arkansas, Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississipi.
"The further you get into the drug use, it gets bad with the drugs," said Scottie. "So, not only do you have the anxieties, but also have the drugs in your system. So, it's chaos at that point."
Prescription opiods are the most commonly abused drugs. According to the Pharmaceutical Journal in 2009, the United States consumed 99% of the world’s hydrocodone and 81% of the world’s oxycodone. Schut says patients should learn which questions to ask to avoid falling victim.
"I think it's important to be a good consumer of medical care, and to understand what you're taking, and the consequences of that, and what might happen as a result of taking a specific drug," said Schut.
44 people die from opioids like oxycontin, vicodin and Percocet. If you need help, call the substance abuse and mental health services administration at 1-800-662-HELP.
Some insurance plans cover certain treatment, so reach out to your provider.
