Press Room

Painkiller Deaths Nearly Quadruple in a Decade

(11/8/2011)

The Wall Street Journal
By Timothy W. Martin
November 2, 2011

The number of deaths annually from overdoses of prescription painkillers nearly quadrupled in a decade, according to a U.S. report released Tuesday examining the public-health effect of powerful new drugs and dispensing practices that have made them relatively easy to obtain. About 14,800 people died in the U.S. from overdoses of painkillers in 2008, up from 4,000 deaths in 1999, while the number of these drugs sold quadrupled, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which issued the report.

Read the full Wall Street Journal Article: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204394804577012003101864354.html

Keywords: painkiller, deaths, quadruple, decade

Recovery Month promotes the societal benefits of prevention, treatment, and recovery for substance use and mental disorders, celebrates people in recovery, lauds the contributions of treatment and service providers, and promotes the message that recovery in all its forms is possible. Recovery Month spreads the positive message that behavioral health is essential to overall health, that prevention works, treatment is effective and people can and do recover.

National Recovery Month 2013

About Recovery Month Sitemap Contact Recovery Month

Behavioral Health is Essential to Health
Prevention Works
Treatment is Effective
People Recover

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is the agency within the U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services that leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation.
SAMHSA's mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America's communities.

Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration • 1 Choke Cherry Road • Rockville, MD 20857 • 1-877-SAMHSA-7