It appears that Americans are in a lot of pain - and it appears that a lot of them live in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. An analysis of Drug Enforcement Agency statistics done by the Associated Press shows an 88% increase in nationwide retail painkiller sales from 1997 to 2005. Over this same time period, the DEA figures show an 800% increase in the area of Myrtle Beach. South Carolina drug rehab facilities must have their hands full.

The AP analysis came to some seemingly logical conclusions regarding this increase. First, they found that the population is getting older - the point being that older people require more pain medication. Second, congressional investigators found that drug specific marketing campaigns by drug companies totaled an unprecedented $30 billion in 2005, nearly 3 times the amount spent in 1997. The bigger drug companies are seeing profits three and four times higher than other industries. And finally, the AP analysis pinpointed a major change in pain management philosophy: Pain medication is now part and parcel of healing, whereas 20 years ago doctors advised patients that pain was part of healing.

The result? Myrtle Beach is becoming inundated with people who may need drug rehab.

Are these three points the reason behind the specifically high increase in pain medication sales in Myrtle Beach? Possibly. But the federal government also suspects illegal activity and pharmaceutical diversion of painkillers. That is to say, Myrtle Beach may be a hot spot for painkiller addicts to find more readily available drugs.

The federal government reports a 160% increase in the number of emergency room visits from painkiller abuse. This is the scary side of so many people taking painkillers – it increases the number of people becoming addicted to the drugs. If you or someone you know is taking prescription painkillers, find a successful South Carolina drug rehab program and get them cleaned up before they become addicted.