Overdoses of prescription drugs account for more emergency room visits than any other cause in Los Angeles County, the county’s top public health official said in a report released Monday.

The number of people checking into publicly funded drug rehabilitation programs for abuse of prescription pain relievers doubled during a five-year-period examined by epidemiologists, and more than 60% of drug-related deaths in the county last year were due to prescription medications.

The study of prescription drug abuse in LA County comes amid increasing concerns across the nation about deaths and addiction related to pain killers and other doctor-approved medications...

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