(Bloomberg) — Doctors wrote 259 million opioid prescriptions for Americans in 2012, enough to medicate every adult in the country. Drug overdoses are eclipsing car crashes as a leading cause of accidental death for American adults.

A poll out today from the Kaiser Family Foundation adds a troubling new number to the accounting: 27% of Americans report that they either have been addicted to prescription painkillers or have a family member or close friend who has. 

Opioid crisis personal for 66 million U.S. adults

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