ALANTA, Ga., April 20 (UPI) -- Accidental overdose in prescription-drug deaths in New Mexico increased at a higher rate than those caused by illegal drugs, a study finds.
Opioid pain relievers such as codeine, Demerol and morphine accounted for the majority of the deaths caused by prescription drugs, according to a study published in the May issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
Using statewide medical examiner reports, Mark Mueller, an epidemiologist with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, determined that of the 765 prescription drug-related overdose deaths in New Mexico from 1994 to 2003 more than three-fourths were caused by opioid pain relievers. One-third of deaths were caused by tranquilizers and one-quarter were caused by anti-depressants.
Unintentional prescription-drug overdoses accounted for 1.9 deaths out of 100,000 deaths at the beginning of the 10-year study period, rising to 5.3 overdose deaths out of 100,000 deaths. This represented a 179-percent increase over a decade, compared with the 121-percent increase in unintentional overdose deaths due to illegal drugs, the study said.
