Fatal painkiller overdoses hit record The number of fatal overdoses OxyContin most commonly abused painkiller has increased to an all-time record over the past decade, according to the CDC painkiller overdose record triple they have increased. In 2008, more people died from painkiller overdoses than from two illegal drugs painkiller overdose deaths top cocaine and heroin combined. Deaths from prescription painkiller overdoses in the US have reached "epidemic" levels over the past 10 years and now account for more fatalities than heroin and cocaine combined, government health officials said Tuesday. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a report that drugs like Vicodin, oxycodone and methadone were to blame for 14,800 lethal overdoses in 2008 -- more than three times the 4,000 who died of painkiller overdoses in 1999. That rate has increased nearly in step with the pace of painkiller sales to pharmacies, hospitals and doctors' offices, which has quadrupled...