Drug Deaths Spike in Florida

Submitted by admin on Fri, 2011-07-08 10:56

Fatal prescription drug overdoses jumped by 61 percent in Florida from 2003 to 2009, and claimed 16,650 lives, Sun Sentinel reports.

 

The report, quoting figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, points out a disturbing trend that we have noted for years. 

 

It has led to new laws over the past several years -- most recently July 1, to control excessive prescriptions by pain doctors and clinics, Sun Sentinel reports.

 

Among the CDC's findings: 

 

Prescription drug overdose deaths: Up 61 percent. There were 2,905 in 2009, compared with 1,804 in 2003. Each victim took a lethal dose of at least one prescription drug.

 

Oxycodone death rate: Up 265 percent. There were 6.4 deaths per 100,000 Floridians in 2009 vs. 1.7 per 100,000 in 2003.

 

Alprazolam(Xanax) death rate: Up 234 percent. There were 4.4 deaths per 100,000 Floridians in 2009 vs. 1.3 per 100,000 in 2003.

 

Read the report here.