Read more David P. Phillips stories on Newserhttp://www.newser.com/taggrid/33169/david-p-phillips.htmlhttp://img1-cdn.newser.com/images/newser-black250x40.gifhttp://www.newser.com/2012 - Newseren-usNewser Feed GeneratorFri, 25 May 2012 18:10:38 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/33582/overdose-deaths-spike.htmlPeter Fearon<img src='http://img1-cdn.newser.com/getimage.aspx?mediaid=123164&width=45&height=45&crop=Y&updateddate=20110401005717' border='0' />The number of deaths caused by fatal combinations of prescription medications with alcohol or street drugs has exploded in recent years in part because patients are being released from hospitals early, according to researchers. Such deaths rocketed from 92 in 1983 to 3,792 in 2004, reports MSNBC.Powerful medications such as OxyContin and shorter hospital stays are said to be at the heart of an epidemic of fatal overdoses at home. http://www.newser.com/story/33582/overdose-deaths-spike.htmlTue, 29 Jul 2008 08:35:07 CDT