Doctors prescribe medications to help people with specific ailments. However, when these medications are abused, they can be deadly. An estimated 20 percent of Americans abuse prescription drugs, and in Utah, the problem is worse.

Those who knew Josh Kresser say if you never go to rub shoulders, then you missed out.

"He had the ability to put a smile on anyone's face," said Josh's mother. "He was a wonderful, outgoing, caring, compassionate young man."

Unfortunately, along with the countless number of good qualities Josh possessed, there was a dark and ominous shadow in which he could not seem to escape.

At the age of 25, Josh overdosed on prescription drugs. He died just hours later. It was a tragic end to an addiction he would never overcome.

Born and raised in Utah, Josh grew up along side his twin brother. He lived a good life, in a good family.

But after graduating high school, and getting a job at a local restaurant, Josh needed major surgery on his spine.

The doctor originally prescribed the painkiller Methadone, but eventually put Josh on Oxycontin. His addiction would soon begin.

"Four days after Josh got the prescription Oxycontin, he overdosed for the very first time," said Josh's mother.

For the next two and a half years, Josh would become a slave to prescription drugs. And finding the high was not a difficult task.

As he often faked injury or illness and hobbled into emergency rooms across the valley, each time, Josh walked away with a new prescription to feed his addiction.

"He was very good at convincing people that he was in pain," said Josh's father. "In his mind, he had a legitimate excuse that his back was bothering him."

Five different times, Josh overdosed on prescription drugs and spent time in detox and re-hab. His parents say, even when some physicians knew about josh's addiction, they continued to fill out prescriptions.

"This doctor ignored all of that," said Josh's mother. "I was so angry, thinking, here is this doctor, who is supposed to be helping my son..and he has relapsed him."

Dr. Elizabeth Howell is an associate professor of psychiatry, at the University of Utah and also blames careless physicians for contributing to the drug problem in Utah.

"There's much more free-prescribing by physicians as a whole," says Howell.

Howell says in many cases, doctors are naïve, prescribing larger quantities, for longer periods of time.

"There is very little knowledge on the dangers of addiction among the professionals," says Howell.

In 2007, overdosing on prescription drugs caused more deaths in Utah (307), than auto accidents (274) or illegal drugs (169).

Because these drugs are prescribed by a doctor, Howell says in many cases that prescription alone has a lot of patients believing there are no dangers associated with it.

For the past 6 years Jesse spent a majority of her life on a prescription high. She faked injuries, stole money and did things she thought she'd never do, just to get prescription drugs.

"I eventually had to sleep with people. Sleep with dealers, sleep with dealers' wives," said Jesse.

Jessie hit rock bottom, and the reality is, that's what it took to change. She cut ties with old friends, entered re-hab, and for the past 10 months has stayed clean.

It's a battle she is determined to win and a battle, that unfortunately often ends like it did for Josh Kresser.

Josh's family believes education is the key to the problem.

And not just for those whom the drugs are prescribed, but also for the doctors who prescribe them.

"I think that's the frightening thing. Because I think everybody is underestimating the power of these drugs," says Josh's mother.

The Kresser family has set up an endowment in Josh's name at the University of Utah. The gift will help fund the treatment for a patient between the ages of 18 and 25.