People who abuse or are dependent on prescription opioid painkillers, such as oxycodone and hydrocodone, are 40 times more likely to abuse heroin, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report released Tuesday.

It's a concerning statistic to state leaders, given that Oklahoma has seen an epidemic of prescription drug abuse, and policymakers are concerned about whether the state could see an increase in heroin usage and overdoses as a result

To help prevent an increase in heroin usage and overdoses in Oklahoma, policymakers and state leaders must focus their attention on preventing prescription drug abuse in the first place, state Health Commissioner Terry Cline said.

"Have we dodged a bullet so far in Oklahoma?" Cline said. "Perhaps."