Between 1998 to 2008, there was a 400 percent increase in hospital admissions for prescription drugs abuse in the United States.

Source: Gloria Goodale, “Prescription drug abuse surged 400 percent in past decade,” Christian Science Monitor, July 15, 2010.

According to an official with Interpol, $1,000 in seed money to start up the manufacturing of counterfeit prescription drugs can lead to potential revenue of $450,000.

In comparison, $1,000 invested into producing heroin will lead to $20,000 in revenue.

Source: “Fake prescription drugs surpass heroin earnings,” San Francisco Choricle, July 11, 2010.

According to the US Center for Disease Control, one in five students in high school abuses legal prescription drugs such as Oxycontin or Vicodin.

26 percent of Seniors were found to have used prescription drugs without a doctor’s prescription, with 15 percent Freshmen reporting illegal use.

Source:  Elizabeth Landau, “CDC: 1 in 5 high schoolers abuse legal drugs,” CNN, Paging Dr. Gupta Blog, June 3, 2010.

The US Drug Enforcement Administration states that more than 7 million Americans abuse prescription drugs.

The total number of users of illegally obtained prescription drugs is more than those who abuse heroin, cocaine, Ecstasy and inhalants combined.

Source: James Walsh, “Rx drug abuse is hard to combat,” Star Tribune, April 28, 2010.

Prescription drugs accounted for 75 percent of overdose drug deaths in the state of Florida in 2009, according to the state medical examiner.

Source:  Scott Hiaasen, “Prescription drug overdose deaths soar,” Miami Herald, April 10, 2010.

Between 1999 to 2006, the hospitalization rate for patients in the United States who poisoned themselves with prescription drugs such as opioids, sedatives and tranquilizers increased by 65 percent according to the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

Source:  Madison Park, “How physicians try to prevent ‘doctor shopping’,” CNN, April 7, 2010.

The number of deaths resulting from the illegal use of prescription pain relievers increased by 98 percent from 2002 to 2006.

Source: National Drug Threat Assessment 2010, “Executive Summary,” Department of Justice, National Drug Intelligence Center, February 2010.

Abusing prescription drugs is the second most illegally used drugs in the United States after marijuana, according to the United Nations.

6.2 Million people in the United States were addicted to prescription drugs in the US in 2008.

Source:  Kate Kelland, “U.N. narcotics board warns of prescription drug abuse,” Reuters, February 24, 2010.

According to a survey done by pharmaceutical company Pfizer, 38 percent of Germans surveyed admitted to purchasing drugs without a prescription from black market sites online, the highest level in all of Europe.

Source:  “Kent laboratory finds growing counterfeit drugs market,” BBC News, February 17, 2010.

According to the most recent data available, the Office of the National Drug Control Policy found that between 2001 and 2005 overdose deaths from prescription pain relievers increased 114 percent to more that 8,500 deaths.

Source:  Robin McKie, “US stars are falling victim to prescription drugs,” Guardian, December 27, 2009.