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[texaslady68]

Americans consume 80 percent of the world's supply of painkillers -- more than 110 tons of pure, addictive opiates every year -- as the country's prescription drug abuse epidemic explodes.

That's enough drugs to give every single American 64 Percocets or Vicodin. And pain pill prescriptions continue to surge, up 600 percent in ten years, thanks to doctors who are more and more willing to hand out drugs to patients who are suffering.

As more people get their hands on these potentially-dangerous drugs, more are taking them to get high. Their drug abuse leads to 14,800 deaths a year -- more than from heroin and cocaine combined.

Nationwide, police are reporting increases in robberies and other crimes by people who are addicted to oxycodone and hydrocodone, the key ingredient in most prescription pain pills.

One of the people lured into crime by drug dependency was Rich Elassar, 36, who once owned a successful business in New Jersey.

But an addiction to painkillers led to him taking 90 Percosets a day, he told BBC. When the money ran out he was desperate for more drugs.

One day, he walked into a bank and handed the teller a note demanding cash. He was caught and arrested shortly after the robbery.

When the police came to bust him, he said he was actually relieved.
'I looked in my rear-view mirror and I saw the cops, I saw their lights flashing and I really, really, really remember thinking, well this is it. I'm going to get clean now,' he said.
But three years in prison and a drug recovery program wasn't enough to help him kick the powerful hold oxycodone had over him. He has relapsed three times since his release and must take medication every day to keep the drug withdrawal symptoms at bay.

[nikki778]

Such a sad story to lose everything due to drugs. Where is his wife? Left him? How sad. Vows mean nothing these days. He was one of the lucky ones to come through this ordeal.

[texaslady68]

I actually know someone personally that was taking up to 45 to 50  loratabs a day. Her boyfriend was a dealer.  Would go to mutliple "pill mills" as we call them here in Houston, per day and get thousands of pills.  She would take 10 to 12 at a time.  She was also a skinny little thing.  So, it could be possible.  Scary thought though.  

[overopiates]

Wow I knew it was bad but those numbers r scary.I'm wry though I don't believe ANYONE can take90perks,tabs whatever a day.Ur body would shut down from not being able to process the buffer within a couple days.I enter get why people also lie about there pill consumption its stupid.I'm ashamed I was taking10-15a day&my stomach was a mess.I just can't imagine anyone who could process that amount of buffer.GREAT POST VERY INFORMATIVE