Prescription Drugs Are Killing San Diegans

Prescription drugs are killing more San Diegans than ever before, according to the Countys first Prescription Drug Abuse Report Card released today.

The report tracked a five-year period from 2007 to 2011. Last year, prescription drugs played a role in the deaths of 267 people, a 27 percent increase compared to 2007 when 211 deaths were reported. A total of 1,164 people have died due to prescription drugs in the last five years.

Prescription drug abuse has become a serious problem in our county. Many young people and adults are abusing prescription drugs. And these drugs can be found at home, said Supervisor Pam Slater-Price at a Monday news conference.

The report card, which includes nine indicators of prescription drug abuse in the region, also showed the following trends:

Emergency room visits due to opiates were up by 64 percent

Total students reporting prescription drug abuse increased (from 17 to 19.6 percent)

The number of juveniles and adults reporting prescription drug misuse also increased (from 33 to 37 percent and 40 to 41 percent respectively)

Number of robberies/burglaries to pharmacies also rose from 9 to 26 incidents, a whopping 188 percent increase.

What the report card shows is alarming, said Nick Macchione, director of the County Health and Human Services Agency. The prescription drug problem isnt a onetime phenomenon, but rather a growing problem with serious repercussions to quality of life in our region.

Methadone, Oxycodone, Valium, Hydrocodone, Morphine, and suddenly prominent in 2011 Xanax or alprazolam, are the prescription drugs that are killing the most people.

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Prescription Drugs Are Killing San Diegans