It turned countless people into addicts, and many died as a result of these drugs – or the ones they desperately sourced when the medical community cut them off cold turkey.

The next prescription drug "epidemic" is likely to be benzodiazepines. These powerful drugs are prescribed for a few physical ailments, such as seizure disorders, but more commonly for maladies, such as insomnia and anxiety. They aren't supposed to be long-term solutions but rather a stopgap measure. That doesn't stop the medical community from treating these sedatives like they are designed to be taken indefinitely.

What are benzodiazepines?

Some of the most popular and frequently prescribed benzodiazepines are alprazolam(Xanax), diazepam (Valium), lorazepam (Ativan), clonazepam (Klonopin), and temazepam (Restoril). Most prescriptions come from primary care providers.