From the CDC, a new bulletin about the state of prescription drug overdose deaths in the US that states that about 74% of all prescription drug overdose deaths are caused by legal opioids.
Deaths from legal opioids (OxyContin, oxycodone, Dilaudid, Vicodin, Percocet, etc) exceed the deaths from heroin and cocaine combined.
In 2008, there were a total of about 36,000 drug overdosages. Close to 90% of these deaths are accidental rather than suicidal.
In 2009, the deaths from drug overdosage exceeded the number of deaths from motor vehicle crashes.
Much more to come about this topic.
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