JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- A report released Thursday by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Florida Medical Examiner's Commission revealed that common prescription drugs were responsible for more deaths in 2007 than common illegal drugs.

"The rate of deaths caused by prescription drugs is over three times as high as the rate of deaths caused by all illicit drugs combined," said Director of the Office of Drug Control Bill Janes.

Deaths involving the use of oxycodone, methadone, cocaine, alcohol, and heroin all rose in 2007, thaccording to the report.

According to the report, "prescription drugs continued to be found more often than illicit drugs in both lethal and non-lethal levels."

"This year's report again reflects that using drugs often leads to fatal consequences," said FDLE Commissioner Gerald Bailey. "FDLE and our law enforcement partners are working aggressively to take illegal narcotics off the streets, and to educate Florida's families about the dangers of the abuse of prescription drugs."

A report released on Thursday by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Florida Medical Examiner's Commission revealed that common prescription drugs were responsible for more deaths in 2007 than common illegal drugs.

"The rate of deaths caused by prescription drugs is over three times as high as the rate of deaths caused by all illicit drugs combined," said Director of the Office of Drug Control Bill Janes.

Deaths involving the use of Oxycodone, Methadone, Cocaine, Alcohol, and Heroin all rose in 2007, the report said.

According to the report, "prescription drugs continued to be found more often than illicit drugs in both lethal and non-lethal levels."

"This year's report again reflects that using drugs often leads to fatal consequences," said FDLE Commissioner Gerald Bailey. "FDLE and our law enforcement partners are working aggressively to take illegal narcotics off the streets, and to educate Florida's families about the dangers of the abuse of prescription drugs."

Bill Janes, Director of the Office of Drug Control, said "doctors and pharmacists must help law enforcement identify and stop doctor shoppers. Only through a comprehensive, coordinated strategy will we be able to reverse this tragic, unacceptable trend."