A new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study finds work-related injuries play a major role in the current opioid epidemic.

The powerful painkillers are often prescribed for work-related injuries, which can vary by occupation. Laurel Harduar-Morano with the CDC says, "what an individual does for work has a significant influence on their lives outside of work as well as their physical and psychological pain."

The study finds six occupational groups had a significantly higher mortality from drug overdose. The workers with the most overdose deaths are those who work in construction, mining, food preparation/service, healthcare practitioners, healthcare support and personal care.

"There is a lot of job stress that may play into it, there's potential for chronic pain and they're working long hours," says Harduar-Morano.

She says the goal is to prevent injury and pain and the first step is for employers to provide safe working environments and for doctors to practice responsible prescribing of pain killers.

Drug overdose deaths in the United States have increased by 137 percent between 2000 and 2014, largely driven by opioid related overdoses.