Deaths from drug overdoses, particularly prescription painkillers, increased significantly over a decade, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported. In 2008, 36,450 people died of drug overdoses _ a national rate of nearly 12 per 100,000 people.
States with the highest rates for fatal drug overdoses:
1. New Mexico, 27
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2. West Virginia, 25.8
3. Nevada, 19.6
4. Utah, 18.4
5. Alaska,18.1
6. Kentucky, 17.9
7. Rhode Island, 17.2
8. Florida, 16.5kk
9. Oklahoma, 15.8
10. Ohio, 15.1
Nationally, almost 5 percent of Americans 12 and older reported abusing painkillers in the past year. States with the highest abuse rates:
1. Oklahoma, 8.1 percent
2. Oregon, 6.8 percent
3. Washington, 6.1 percent
3. Rhode Island, 6.1 percent
4. Arizona, 6 percent
4. Kentucky, 6 percent
5. West Virginia, 5.9 percent
5. Nevada, 5.9 percent
5. New Hampshire, 5.9 percent
6. Idaho, 5.8 percent
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Online:
CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/
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