A US Government National Survey on Drug Use report has shown that almost half of all Americans take prescription painkillers, tranquilizers, stimulants or sedatives.

According to results of the federal survey released Thursday, the prevalent use of these drugs could help explain why millions of Americans end up misusing or abusing them.

In 2015 the survey asked interviewees about all uses of prescription medicines, not just inappropriate use. The survey found that 119 million Americans age 12 and over took prescription psychotherapeutic drugs.

Says the report findings: “Misuse of prescription psychotherapeutic drugs is second only to marijuana as the nation’s most prevalent illicit drug use issue.”

Of those surveyed, about 19 million Americans didn’t follow a prescription. Most misuse was associated from people who acquired the prescription drugs from friends or family. More 30%  had a prescription but took those drugs excessively. About 5 percent bought drugs from a dealer or stranger.

All told, 16 percent of all prescription drug use was actually misuse, according to the report.

There’s no question that these drugs help alleviate pain and suffering for millions of Americans. But it’s also clear that the system encourages overuse.

Kim Johnson, director of the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment at the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration says, “Just like any drug, the more it’s out there, the more it’s available, the more likely it is to be abused.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is trying to reform prescribing practices, particularly for opioid drugs, to reduce the overuse of these pain medications. The new survey also documents the dire need for affordable and accessible treatment options.

President Obama’s 2017 fiscal year budget called for more than $1 Billion to expand access to drug treatment, but Congress has not acted on it as yet.