Could that be partly due to the fact that more and more people are dissuaded by their drs from asking for effective meds, and then come the time they can't stand it any more, they are forced to the ER?

Another key to this statistic could be the rise of the Wal-Mart super-store low-pay-no-benefits job.

So all the people who have no insurance and hurt themselves go to the emergency room, as do their families...this would add to that percentage...

People go to the ER when they are in pain, after all...or scared of dying if they put something off.

So it is natural that they leave with pain medication.