Prescription drug abuse is a rampant problem in Kentucky, where over 86 thousand kids are growing up without their parents—many because of this issue. In fact, Kentucky is the fourth most medicated state in the nation and has the sixth highest rate of overdose deaths. Dr. Sanjay Gupta reports on that reality from one community that is all too familiar with this "epidemic that is tearing apart family after family."
Hannah Eaton is a high school student in Rockcastle County, Kentucky. She lost both her uncle and cousin to years of prescription drug abuse. “You're constantly hearing of someone else who is dying because of abusing prescription drugs,” Eaton says.
Karen Kelly is the Executive Director of Operation Unite, a community coalition devoted to preventing overdose deaths in Kentucky like those of Eaton's relatives. She says half of the kids in Rockcastle County have no parent in the home whatsoever. “So now we're seeing many raised by great grandparents because we've lost an entire generation of young people,” Kelly says. “And, you know, the kids really are the ones paying the biggest price."