There’s a new war on drugs, but it’s a confusing fight – because it involves legal pain medications, often prescribed by doctors. ABC News reports that the number of people who check into rehab because they’re addicted to painkillers has risen 400% in the last decade, according to a study released by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

In 1998, 2.2 percent of people seeking treatment reported abusing prescription pain medications, but that number has climbed steadily. In 2008, nearly 10 percent reported abusing common prescription drugs such as Vicodin, OxyContin or morphine. Although it’s good that more people are seeking treatment, there’s no doubt that more and more people are also becoming addicted. “The bad news is the problem just keeps growing,” said Peter Delany, director of the Office of Applied Studies at SAMHSA. “People look at these medications and because it’s a prescription, they don’t think it’s as dangerous.”

In addition to increased rehab check-ins, ER visits associated with prescription drug overdose more than doubled from 2004 to 2008. But even with the issue’s growing spotlight, the struggle with prescription drugs is still misunderstood. “We have to struggle with overturning the public misperceptions,” said Steve Pasierb, president and CEO of A Partnership for a Drug-Free America. ”I’m hoping this report can be like a cold, wet slap in the public’s face to wake up to the fact that this is an actual, real public problem.”

Prescription drug abuse and addiction affects everyone, not just celebrities who make headlines for their ODs. The problem is prevalent across age, gender, level of education and employment status – and people start young; one in five teens say they have used prescription drugs to get high.

Experts say that to fight the problem, we need to change the way that doctors prescribe the medications, the way kids are educated in school, and the way that law enforcement tracks and prosecutes prescription fraud. In the meantime, talk to your kids about it and clean our your medicine cabinets.

For more information, check out SAMHSA’s website.