The search for pain relief is turning respectable members of the community into drug addicts.
It's happened for years, since the introduction of the highly effective and highly addictive opioid pain killers, like Oxycontin and Vicodin.
Doctors are now trying to limit prescriptions to them, but that's sent some people turning to heroin for relief.
JPR reporter Liam Moriarty researched the issue in a series of reports, "Silent Epidemic."
We hear the full series of reports, and Liam joins us for further analysis and background.
FOLLOW: We were reminded after the airing that the name has changed for the group meeting on opioid prescriptions... it is now OPG, for Oregon Pain Guidance.