The Drug Enforcement Administration passed a stricter rule for prescriptions of the most common painkiller in the U.S. on Thursday in an effort to curb prescription drug abuse. New rules for the prescription of hydrocodone, which is commonly used in drugs like Vicodin, will go into effect in 45 days. Doctors may no longer call in prescriptions by telephone and patients must return to a health care professional to obtain refills. The drug will now be stored in special vaults in pharmacies. The drug abuse epidemic claims 20,000 American lives every year, according to federal data.
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