The overdoses increase as the government takes away the Dr's ability to prescribe as he/she sees fit.  I know a number of people who suffer from chronic pain and have suddenly had the effective dose of their pain medications dramatically reduced.  What does it matter if a person in severe chronic pain is dependent on an opiate?  Is the world going to suddenly run out of opiates?  Big deal...many people are dependent on their medications...perhaps the government will go after the diabetics and their insulin...as it is also used "illicitly" as a performance enhancer or dietary aid by some people.
Wake up everybody...if people can not obtain the medications they need from their doctors then they will get them from the 1000s of unregulated sources that are available throughout the world and the overdose problems will continue to rise.