According to data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, more than 54 million people age 12 and older have abused opioid prescription drugs at some point in their lives.
Horatio Gonzales says he is concerned about the growing number of addictions to opioid prescription drugs.
"It is growing strong," said Gonzalez. " My son is addicted to them and it just took one time."
Gonzalez tells me it's a problem that not only affects his son but his brother.
"My brother is starting to develop and opioid dependency ... he needs pain medicine for his health condition," he said. " And he takes up to 60 pills a day."
Ingham County Health Officer Linda Vail says opioid addictions are a growing problem for Ingham County.
"Opioid-related deaths and abuse have quadrupled in our country and in Ingham county in the last ten years," says Vail.
Larry Wagenknecht, Chief Executive Officer of the Michigan Pharmacists Association, says opioid addiction can affect anyone at any age.
Wagenknecht says it is no longer just teenagers but now it's moving into other age groups.
"We are really trying to focus on the education of the pharmacists, physicians, physician assistants and nurse practitioners who are prescribing medication and the public," said Wagenknecht.
