Dr. Comilla Sasson from the University of Colorado Hospital stopped by the 9NEWS studios to explain the major findings.

Prescription drugs are now the second most common illegal drug being used by kids. Marijuana is number one.

The increase is across the board - from men and women from a variety of races. Facilities have seen a 500 percent increase in people seeking prescription drug abuse rehab.

Dr. Sasson says this may be due to the sheer amount of prescriptions written for drugs like Vicodin, Oxycontin and Valium.

Prescriptions went from 40 million in 1991 to more than 180 million in 2007, so there are more drugs available at home, making their use seem more normal to young people.

At a young age, Dr. Sasson says a child's brain is very susceptible, making pills much more addictive.

This can lead to long-term abuse issues, and may be why overdose deaths as a result of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are now higher than both cocaine and heroin combined.

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