WAFF-TV: News, Weather and Sports for Huntsville, ALPrescription drug abuse kills more than heroin and cocaine

The Centers for Disease Control reports prescription drug overdoses account for more deaths than heroin and cocaine combined.

And for that reason, many came together in Huntsville Tuesday night for a town forum to address the problem.

WAFF 48 sat down with a recovering addict who did not want to be identified.

She is on the verge of being 22 years sober but she still considers herself a work in progress. She started drinking alcohol and using drugs at the age of 12.

For the next 14 years, she used cocaine, crystal-meth and tried prescription drugs.

"I liked the way they made me feel, they did for me what I couldn't feel like when I didn't have them."

But she couldn't have it all using drugs either.

DHR threatened to take her child and she was about to lose her job.

"Until you hit a bottom you are not going to do anything about it. Regardless of your children or regardless of how bad it hurts them."

The problem goes much deeper. It was the topic of conversation at the partnership for a drug free community forum.

A panel of experts shared what they knew about this growing problem.

"The reality is, prescription medication has definitely become an arguable first place for what is our biggest problem," said Sgt. Dewayne McCarver STAC Commander.

People at the meeting said awareness is just one way to crackdown on this problem.

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