[xtypo_dropcap]T[/xtypo_dropcap]he Sunshine State may be facing a new wave of drug addiction—the legal kind.
Drug-related deaths in Florida rose alarmingly in 2009, leading experts to believe there is a new addiction trend.
Prescription drug-related deaths rose 20 percent in Florida last year over 2008.
A report released by the Florida Medical Examiners Commission last week showed that prescription drugs contributed to more than 8,600 deaths in Florida in 2009, up from 6,200 reported in 2008.
The four leading deadly substances were heroin, methadone, oxycodone, and fentanyl. The leading cause of death continues to be heroin which contributed to 85 percent of drug fatalities. However, in recent years there has been a noticeable decrease in heroin abuse. Last year, heroin related deaths decreased by over 20 percent compared to 2008.
“Prescription and over the counter abuse is growing faster than any other drug segment and law enforcement is responding with aggressive enforcement,” said FDLE Commissioner Gerald Bailey in the report.
Ft. Lauderdale and St. Petersburg lead the state in the number of prescription drug deaths. In Broward County, which contains Fort Lauderdale, 62 percent of people who died from drugs took lethal doses of opioids—strong painkillers in brand-name drugs like Vicodin and OxyContin—and many had a mixture of two drugs such as opioids and cocaine.
The report comes at a time when prescription drug abuse is at an all time high. State lawmakers are battling the problem with recently passed laws that create a prescription drug monitoring program. State law enforcement also reported devoting more resources to catching prescription drug abusers.
Drug-related deaths in Florida rose alarmingly in 2009, leading experts to believe there is a new addiction trend.
Prescription drug-related deaths rose 20 percent in Florida last year over 2008.
A report released by the Florida Medical Examiners Commission last week showed that prescription drugs contributed to more than 8,600 deaths in Florida in 2009, up from 6,200 reported in 2008.
The four leading deadly substances were heroin, methadone, oxycodone, and fentanyl. The leading cause of death continues to be heroin which contributed to 85 percent of drug fatalities. However, in recent years there has been a noticeable decrease in heroin abuse. Last year, heroin related deaths decreased by over 20 percent compared to 2008.
“Prescription and over the counter abuse is growing faster than any other drug segment and law enforcement is responding with aggressive enforcement,” said FDLE Commissioner Gerald Bailey in the report.
Ft. Lauderdale and St. Petersburg lead the state in the number of prescription drug deaths. In Broward County, which contains Fort Lauderdale, 62 percent of people who died from drugs took lethal doses of opioids—strong painkillers in brand-name drugs like Vicodin and OxyContin—and many had a mixture of two drugs such as opioids and cocaine.
The report comes at a time when prescription drug abuse is at an all time high. State lawmakers are battling the problem with recently passed laws that create a prescription drug monitoring program. State law enforcement also reported devoting more resources to catching prescription drug abusers.
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