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(USGovernment-News.Com, June 27, 2015 ) Philadelphia, PA -- According to recent report, Pennsylvania is among the top of the national statistics for drug overdose-related deaths. The report also revealed that states nearby including West Virginia and Ohio had been hit even harder.
The use of prescription drugs and heroin in the state is what's fueling the problem, Pennsylvania is among 35 other states which have had car accident-related deaths surpass drug overdose-related deaths.
All injury-related deaths had been broken down in the report published by the Trust for America's Health and Robert Wood Foundation. According to the report, Pennsylvania fell in the middle of all the states for rates of injury-related deaths, falling at No. 23. Pennsylvania came in No. 9 for for it's rates of drug overdose-related deaths, significantly higher than average rates. Pennsylvania was also one of the seven states to score a significantly low 4 out of 10 on key indicators which states can utilize to prevent those types of deaths.
The large population in Pennsylvania experienced a number of 2,426 overdose deaths in 2013, according to data from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The report found that prescription drugs accounted for over half of about 44,000 drug overdose-related deaths in the United States in 2013. Despite prescription drug overdoses peaking nationally in 2012, heroin overdose-related deaths have continuously increased, leading to an all round increase in drug overdoses.
According to Jeffrey Levi, executive director of the Trust for America's Health, the number of drug overdose-related deaths originally surpassed the number of car-accident related deaths four years ago, and doubled in the years between 1999 and 2003.
There were 306 drug overdose-related deaths in Allegheny County in 2014, "it only seems to be increasing" says Karen Hacker, director of the Allegheny County health Department. According to data collected from the Pennsylvania State Coroners Association, Allegheny County falls right behind Philadelphia County in total drug overdose-related deaths.
"The prescription drug epidemic is really troubling. More than 2 million Americans use prescription drugs, and it's fueling a rise in heroin use." said Corinne Peek-Asa, associate dean for research at College of Public Health at University of Iowa. Peek suggests the increase is due to heroin being an opioid which has similar effects to prescription pain medications. Patients tend to switch to heroin after they run out of prescription drugs because it's cheaper and easy to access.
Physicians, policy makers and the pharmaceutical industry have taken steps toward addressing the epidemic taking place in Pennsylvania.
A medical associate from Drug Rehab Philadelphia comments "That's quite frightening that Pennsylvania has such a high incidence of drug overdose-related deaths. It's even more frightening to learn that we've scored so low in relation to doing what it takes to prevent these types of deaths. The heroin epidemic in our state is definitely an uphill battle. We treat countless heroin addicts here at our facility and many of them who share their stories say that they started out hooked on prescription drugs then transitioned to using heroin. Heroin is a scary drug, it's like just one time can get you hooked, and the effects of this drug are just horrific. I am hopeful that this report will be a wake up call for our state, we have to do something to help put an end to drug overdose-related drugs."
Drug Rehab Philadelphia is a comprehensive addiction treatment center, most popularly know for it's program for heroin rehab in Philadelphia, PA. The luxury addiction treatment center is medically supervised and supported 24/7, providing patients with around the clock care and assured safety and security. Drug Rehab Philadelphia is committed to providing each patient with the highest quality of treatment and care.
To learn more about the addiction and recovery services available at Drug Rehab Philadelphia, visit their website at http://www.drugrehabphiladelphia.net/ or call the center directly at (267) 351-8139.
About Drug Rehab Philadelphia: Drug Rehab Philadelphia is a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center specializing in heroin rehab in Philadelphia and drug rehab in Philadelphia.
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