Utahs Opioid epidemic - Ericnielson and Associates
Every month, 23 Utahns die from prescription drug overdoses. Utah has the 7th highest drug overdose rate in the U.S. More people are dying from prescription drugs than from car accidents. The majority of these people die from pain medications they were prescribed by their doctors. In 2014, one-third of Utah adults were prescribed an opioid pain medication. Opioids are pain relieving medications that bind to opioid receptors in the brain. Pharmaceuticals such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, morphine, and fentanyl, are considered opioids. Heroin is also an opioid. From 2000 to 2015, Utah has experienced a 400% increase in deaths from prescription drugs. One-third of all deaths investigated by the State Medical Examiner’s Office are overdose related. These deaths are entirely preventable.
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