Study shows increase in prescription drug abuse.

Prescription drug abuse is quickly becoming one of the leading killers in the U.S. and a review of hospitalizations, linked to painkillers, finds the number of cases increased 65% from 1999 to 2006, unintentional overdoses of these drugs increased 37% and the largest increase was seen in a drug normally used to treat heroin addicts. Experts say these numbers show prescription drug abuse is a common, lethal problem that deserves further study.