Report says Americans gobbling up Pain Pills

A new report from Consumer Reports warns Americans are gobbling up pain medications that are highly addictive with deadly side effects. Report author Lisa Gill of Consumer Reports says that prescriptions for painkillers like Vicodin and Percocet are up 300% over the last decade and the number of deaths is up as well. “Half a million people go to the ER and are admitted into the ER every year as a result of taking, not taking them correctly, taking them with alcohol and taking these drugs maybe even several together at the same time.” Gill says thousands die each year from legal pain pills. “It is about 17,000 right now people die from unintentional use of these drugs or even sometimes intentional or even abuse of these medications.” We are wrong to assume we are safe taking things like acetaminophen and ibuprofen, concludes Gill. “I think we have to take a very close look at how safe are the drugs, what side effects do they cause and what are the risks.” Consumer Reports is calling on the FDA to take stronger steps to reduce the dangers of pain relief medications. It also says patients should ask their doctors if there is another alternative to easing pain such as physical therapy or exercise.