• In 2006, drug overdoses were the leading cause of death in West Virginia for adults under the age of 45.  These rates were the highest in the country.

• In 2005, approximately 250,000 West Virginians were using some sort of prescription drugs for non-medical reasons.                                                          

• In five years (1999-2004), deaths resulting from drug overdose in West Virginia rose 550%.  This was the largest increase of any state in the country. 

• Approximately 20% of people have used prescription drugs non-medically in their lifetime.  This figure represents 48 million Americans.

• Research indicates that teenagers abuse prescription drugs more than they abuse heroin, cocaine, methamphetamines, crack or ecstasy, partly because they see prescriptions as ‘safer’ than other drugs. 

• Between 1992 and 2003, prescription drug abuse in 12-17 year-olds rose a shocking 212%.

• The 2007 National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that from 2006 to 2007, cocaine use among 18-25 year-olds decreased almost 22% percent to 1.7 percent, and methamphetamine use deceased by one third.  However, abuse of prescription pain relievers by the same age group rose 12%.

• In one year, 2006, West Virginians filled an average of 17.2 prescriptions.

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