A report recently released by the non-profit Trust for America’s Health shows that states across the high plains region have the lowest overdose rates according to the Kansas Health Institute.
Here’s how high plains states ranked:
5. Oklahoma*** (19.4)
24. Colorado (12.7)
43. (tie) Kansas** and Texas (9.6)
49. Nebraska** (6.7)
50. South Dakota (6.3)
51. North Dakota (3.4)
** Drug Overdose Mortality Rates doubled from 1999 to 2010
*** Drug Overdose Mortality Rates tripled from 1999 to 2010
**** Drug Overdose Mortality Rates quadrupled from 1999 to 2010
Note: Rates include total drug overdose mortality rates, the majority of which are from prescription drugs. 1 = Highest rate of drug overdose fatalities,51 = lowest rate of drug overdose fatalities. Rankings are based on data from CDC's National Center for Health Statistics, WONDER Online Database, 2010. The numbers are based on the number of people per 100,000.
The majority of overdose deaths are from prescription drugs. The state of Kansas recently upgraded software to increase the effectiveness of its drug monitoring program. The purpose of this software is to flag drug abusers, dealers, and others who “doc shop” for multiple prescriptions. The upgrade is part of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy pilot program. Kansas is the first, and to-date, the only state to utilize the free software program.