Script overdoses rise dramatically

An American study finds the number of people who died after overdosing on painkillers has more than tripled.

The new report from the center for disease control shows nearly 15,000 Americans died after taking powerful prescription drugs like oxycontin and vicodin in 2008.

Back in 1999, the number of such deaths was just 4,000.

The CDC finds nearly 5% of Americans over age 12 say they’ve abused prescription painkillers in the past year.