Australia is hot on the heels of America's prescription drug crisis according to newly released research which shows more Australians die from prescribed drugs and illegal narcotics.
The report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare revealed more than 1200 people last year alone died from prescription drugs.
"I think it's likely to get worse. I think the government will get a wake up call with these recent statistics," Professor Richard Mattick said.
It also found that a rising number, now around one million, are abusing and misusing pharmaceutical drugs.
The worrying findings, come a week after news that 10 Australians died in 2015 after taking fentanyl, and opioid painkiller 50 more times powerful than heroin.
Professor Mattick said there's been a fivefold increase in the availability of opioids in the last 15 years.
The report paints a stark picture of those most affected as well, with people living rurally more likely to misuse drugs.
So too are those from more disadvantaged socio-economic areas.
These latest figures spark warning of an epidemic similar to the US, where opioids kill more people under 50 than anything else.
"We're on an accelerating path and we have to watch it," Professor Mattick said
"We have to not get to where the USA is."
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