Prescription drug addiction is on the rise in the United States and is showing no signs of slowing down.  But what is fueling the problem?  And are we any closer to making gains in stopping the illegal abuse of drugs such as Vicodin and OxyContin - both of which are claiming the lives of our friends and family at an alarming rate?

Here are five facts from the front lines of prescription drug abuse and addiction that show just how serious this problem has become:

1.       Death due to accidental overdose of prescription medication has just surpassed car accidents as the number one cause of accidental death of U.S. citizens aged 45 - 54.

2.       An autopsy of the late actor Heath Ledger found that was taking six different prescription medications at the time of his death.

3.       A recent federal survey found that in 2007, almost 7 million American abused prescription drugs, which is more than cocaine, heroin, LSD, ecstasy, and marijuana combined.

4.       Over 60% of all United States college students have been given a chance to try prescription drug illicitly by their third year of college.

5.       Fraud involving illegal prescriptions for prescription drugs cost insurance carriers almost 73 billion dollars per year according to a report published in 2008.

Individuals with a prescription drug addiction need quality care to help them break the cycle of addiction.  If you or someone you love is struggling with a dependence on prescription medications, contact a drug treatment center in your area and learn about the options available to you.

A recent study at Columbia University found that hundreds of websites around the world are still shipping highly addictive prescription medications overseas, despite threats from Interpol and other worldwide policing organizations to combat the problem.

In its cleverly titled report, “You’ve got drugs” Columbia researchers described a process in which anyone, including minors, could easily have medications such as Vicodin or OxyContin shipped to their front door even if they didn’t have a prescription.

The process is difficult to police, according to the report, since many international pharmacies develop illegal relationships with physicians who then ship the controlled substances into the United States using disguised packages.

These doctors generally do not have more than a passing relationship with the patient, and would certainly be in no position to determine whether or not the drugs in question are causing adverse effects on their health.

As this news story adds, access to prescription drugs is a growing problem among young people, with one and five teenagers now reporting that they have illicitly taken medications in order to obtain their euphoric effects.

Currently, the most commonly abused prescription drugs are:

• Vicodin
• OxyContin
• Percocet
• Ritalin
• Amphetamines

Families who believe their loved one has a prescription drug addiction should contact a drug rehab center immediately.