A Centers for Disease Control studysays 80 out of 100 people have been prescribed painkillers in Arizona.
Southeastern states had the highest rate of prescriptions per person. Arizona follows closely behind in the group of states that has the second highest rate of scripts. Drug Enforcement Agency spokeswoman Ramona Sanchez said the use and abuse of hydrocodone and oxycodone can lead to illegal drug use.
“Prescription opiates are nothing more than synthetic heroin," Sanchez said. "And what is happening now is because of the surge of prescription painkillers such as hydrocodone, oxycodone that drives the market up for heroin."
There is a statewide database that records opioid prescriptions. It is meant to prevent doctor shopping, pharmacy hopping or fake scripts.
