(CNN) Doctors are increasingly being held accountable -- some even facing murder charges -- when their patients overdose on opioid painkillers they prescribed . Those at the greatest risk of overdosing, however, are more likely to get the drugs through their own doctor's prescription, according to the CDC. Patterson, who has investigated opioid cases involving doctors, said the DEA has made the drug epidemic a priority in recent years. "The (VA) had one of the earliest and worst guidelines on opioid prescribing that I've ever seen," he added. Last week, a VA-funded study found that tapering down painkillers improves quality of life for chronic pain patients.

Source: CNN July 31, 2017 09:11 UTC