Oregon had the nation's second highest rate of nonmedical use of prescription painkillers in a recent CDC report and linked the high usage to increased prescriptions, according to an Oregon Live report.
In 2010, the state of Oregon prescribed 11.6 kilograms of opioid pain relievers per 10,000 people — much higher than the national average of 7.1. However, the overdose rate in Oregon was 11.7 per 100,000 people, which is lower than the national average of 11.9.
Related Articles on Prescription Drug Abuse:
Opioid Pain Reliever Overdose Kills More than Heroin and Cocaine Combined
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Chronic Pain and Prescription Drug Abuse Cost U.S. More Than $323 Billion a Year
Related Articles on Prescription Drug Abuse:
Opioid Pain Reliever Overdose Kills More than Heroin and Cocaine Combined
Dr. Scott Glaser: The Need for Interconnected Prescription Monitoring Programs
Chronic Pain and Prescription Drug Abuse Cost U.S. More Than $323 Billion a Year