The report to the General Assembly shows that pharmacists dispensed nearly 18.3 million prescriptions in Tennessee last year for controlled substances such as OxyContin and hydrocodone. That’s a nearly 1.5% increase in painkiller prescriptions from the year before. The previous year showed a 23% increase.

The report by the state Department of Health shows that hydrocodone is the No. 1 used painkiller in Tennessee. An anti-anxiety drug which is marketed under the brand name Xanax, ranked next in number of prescriptions filled for controlled substances.

Tennessee has one of the highest prescription drug abuse rates in the nation.