Pain med use is up 90% over the last 10 years.
I'm guessing Rush Limbaugh had something to with this.

Is it any wonder we're all in pain? Look who's been in charge for the past few years.

According to a recent analysis by the Associated Press (AP) news agency of figures from the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Americans are using painkillers more than ever before. Between 1997 and 2007 the volume of five major painkillers sold and distributed in the United States ...has risen by 90 per cent.

That seems about right. I have 90% more headaches since early 2001.

The DEA figures show that in the most recent year of complete data, Americans bought in excess of 200,000 pounds of codeine, hydrocodone, meperidine, morphine, and oxycodone.

And that's probably just Rush.

Most of the increased sales is in pills that contain oxycodone, the active ingredient in the painkiller OxyContin.

Yep, it's Rush.

Nowadays however [oxycodone, the active ingredient in OxyContin) has gained a strong foothold in major cities in states such as Ohio and Florida.

Two crucial swing states. Hmmmm.... ::rubs chin thoughtfully::

One of the reasons for the increase is drug marketing, which has gone up from 11 billion dollars spent in 1997 to 30 billion in 2005. Don't get me started. This practice is criminal, in my view. They're hawking drugs on TV, and doctors have become dealers.

God,this is stressing me out. I need a Valium.