Final answer:
Opiate pain relievers are commonly abused prescriptions, including medications like hydrocodone and oxycodone, contributing to the opioid epidemic due to their high potential for addiction and misuse.
Step-by-step explanation:
The commonly abused prescription amongst the options provided is opiate pain relievers. These medications include drugs such as hydrocodone (Vicodin), oxycodone (OxyContin, Percocet), morphine, and methadone. Opiate pain relievers are prescribed to treat moderate to severe pain but have a high potential for abuse and addiction.
The misuse of these drugs is a significant public health concern because they act on the same opioid receptors in the brain as heroin, leading to a similar high. The opioid epidemic has been fueled by an increase in the prescription of these painkillers, leading to widespread addiction and, in many cases, a transition to heroin use when prescription opioids become inaccessible.