Prescription drug abuse is a problem many people face regardless of income, class, or status.

Law enforcers and drug abuse experts in the Mid-Ohio Valley said there is a problem in the region with prescription drug abuse and it centers around opiates.

At Westbrook Health Services, Karen Schimmel said 85% of the women served there last year were addicted to opiate-based drugs.

OxyContin, Lortab, and Vicodin are among the top three used in the area according to Wood County officials.

Schimmel said the abuse comes in when people use more than what's prescribed and start depending on the drugs. Then some do what's called "doctor shopping," where people will go from doctor to doctor and place to place.

However anyone without a prescription for the drug could face charges.

"They'll report their drugs being stolen. A lot of times we take several reports each year on that probably 20 to 25 and they'll want us to write a report that it's been stolen so the doctor can write another prescription whereas they sold the drug then they can get more," said Sgt. Brent Gandee, Wood County Sheriff's Dept.

Officials say when these cases are reported they could also be legitametly stolen but there's a chance it could be used to support an addiction.

There are databases in place in both Washington and Wood counties for authorities to check with doctors to see who should be receiving these prescriptions.

Westbrook Health Services in Parkersburg provides help to those who think they may have a problem.

Right now it's an abstinence based program but soon it plans to provide medicated assistance services as well.

For more information call Westbrook Health Services at 304-485-172.