The rate of deaths from prescription drug abuse in the United States has increased by 313 percent over the past decade. According to the Congressional Quarterly Transcription article "Rep. Joe Pitt Holds Hearing on Prescription Drug Abuse," prescription opioid medications were involved in 16,650 overdose deaths in 2010, accounting for more than deaths than those due to heroin and cocaine overdoses. Prescription medications or painkillers “sometimes condemn the patient to a lifelong addiction,” according to Dr. Tom Frieden, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This problem not only affects the lives of those who overdose, but also communities due to the convenience of being able to find these items in pharmacies and others. Not to mention the fact that doctors who prescribe these opioids often tend to misuse them. Abuse of these prescribed medications can “destroy dreams and abort great destinies,” and end the abuser’s opportunity to make a positive impact on the community. Drugs cause an overall disruption of the physiological, psychological and emotional health of subjects. At the national level, drug abuse creates health risks for the user, particularly affecting the educational and general development of young people” (“Fresh Challenge”). In young people in particular, drug abuse can be triggered by factors such as: abusive behavior of a parent, poor social contact. skills, a family history of alcoholism or drug abuse, divorce of parents or guardians, poverty, the death of a loved one, or because they are bullied at school (“Drugs, Brains and behavior"). In some circumstances, drug use could be due to a psychological disorder requiring drugs to...... middle of article...... 2013: A.1. “New Data Shows Rise in Prescription Drug Abuse.” Targeted News Service (United States), April 11, 2011: NewsBank. Internet. December 6, 2013. “New challenge against drug abuse.” allAfrica.com April 11, 2011, NEWS: NewsBank. Internet. December 6, 2013. Gwinnell, Esther and Christine Adamec. “addiction”. Health reference center. Facts about File, Inc. Web. January 20, 2014. “addiction.” Health reference center. Facts about File, Inc. Web. January 20, 2014 “Drugs, Brains, and Behavior: The Science of Addiction.” Drugs, Brains and Behavior: The Science of Addiction. February 2007: 1-30. SIRS Government Reporter. Internet. January 20, 2014. Kahn, Ada P. and Jan Fawcett. The Encyclopedia of Mental Health. 2nd ed. New York: Facts on File, 2001. Shannon, Kari. “Detection of domestic violence in Sainte-Catherine. » Chicago HealthCare, December 1991.