Health experts say 800 Australians die per year from prescription pain killer overdoses, but that number could continue to rise.
 
The toll is highest in rural and regional areas, according to the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC).
 
NDARC authorities warn that users of drugs like OxyContin, Fentanyl, codeine and morphine are beginning to move across state boundaries to access the drugs they want, as not all accredited prescribers or pharmacies in regional areas can provide treatment. 
 
The addiction specialists say that their work is increasingly moving from treating heroin addicts to prescription drug addicts in the past decade.
 
Some users have told reporters that they are turning to drugs like Xanax because it is easier to get than illegal drugs like methamphetamine without arousing suspicion.