"More than four in 10 Americans see prescription painkillers and heroin as a "crisis" or "very serious problem" in their local areas. Smaller percentages of Americans — one in three or fewer — view cigarettes, alcohol, cocaine and marijuana as a crisis or very serious problem where they live," a Gallup survey said.
At issue are prescription painkillers that use synthetic opioids such as oxycodone (Percocet) and hydrocodone (Vicodin), which have similar properties as heroin.
Cocaine abuse was cited by just 28 percent of those surveyed as a crisis or very serious problem.
Prescription painkillers have become a bipartisan issue in the US presidential campaign and in the US Congress, where lawmakers recently passed legislation with numerous prevention and treatment measures intended to reduce prescription opioid and heroin abuse, the release noted.
Many heroin overdose deaths occur in people whose addiction began with doctor prescribed pain medication.
