U.S. sees sharp increase in painkiller overdoses, Ore. No. 2 on list

By Associated Press Published: Nov 1, 2011 at 1:11 PM PDT Last Updated: Nov 1, 2011 at 2:05 PM PDT
U.S. sees sharp increase in painkiller overdoses, Ore. No. 2 on list
In this June 27, 2011 photo, Bree Saghy, 24, injects liquefied oxycodone pills at her Fort Lauderdale, Fla. home. Saghy has been addicted to the painkillers for eight years. Once a cheerleader, Saghy is a stripper who lives with her mom and uses all her money for drugs, which she gets legally from local pain clinics. (AP Photo/The Courier-Journal, Kylene Lloyd)

NEW YORK (AP) — A new government report shows the number of overdose deaths from powerful painkillers have more than tripled over a decade.

Prescription painkillers such as OxyContin, Vicodin and methadone contributed to the deaths of nearly 15,000 people in 2008. That's more than three times the 4,000 deaths in 1999.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 5 percent of Americans ages 12 and older say they've abused prescription painkillers. The highest rate of abuse was reported in Oklahoma while the lowest was in Nebraska and Iowa.

Oregon had the second-highest abuse rate in the country. 6.8 percent of people 12 and older said they have abused painkillers in the previous year. Washington was just behind Oregon at 6.1 percent.

Fatal overdoses were more likely in men and middle-aged adults.

The report was released Tuesday by the CDC.

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

States with the highest rates of fatal overdoses (rate per 100,000 people):

1. New Mexico, 27

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, 16.5

9. Oklahoma, 15.8

10. Ohio, 15.1
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Read the full CDC report