Drug Overdose Deaths up 440%

How out of control is the opiates problem?  Opiate overdose deaths surpassed driving injury deaths in 2007 and 2010 in Ohio.


Drug Overdose Deaths surpass Driving Related Deaths - up 440%

Overdose Deaths Triple to 16,000 a year from Prescription Opiate Overdoses

Paulozzi said overall prevalence of nonmedical use of prescription opioid painkillers has held steady in recent years, at about 12 million, or 1 in 20 people aged 12 and older.

But previous CDC data show overdose deaths involving these drugs more than tripled from 1999 to 2010, with more than 16,000 deaths that year. By contrast, overdose deaths that involved heroin and cocaine totaled less than 8,000, and deaths that involved often-abused prescription drugs that include anti-anxiety medication totaled about 6,500.

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