Utah and Idaho among states with smallest drug problems

FILE - In this Aug. 9, 2021, file photo, fake pill bottles with messages about OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma are displayed during a protest outside the courthouse where the bankruptcy of the company is taking place in White Plains, N.Y. A federal judge on Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021, has rejected OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma’s bankruptcy settlement of thousands of lawsuits over the opioid epidemic because of a provision that would protect members of the Sackler family from facing litigation of their own. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)

LOGAN – According to a recent report released by personal-finance website WalletHub, the number of annual drug overdose deaths in the United States has reached over 103,500. The report, entitled “States with the Biggest Drug Problems,” compares all 50 states and the District of Columbia in terms of 20 key metrics, including arrest and overdose rates, opioid prescriptions, and employee drug testing laws.

Utah finished 50th overall with Idaho ranked nearby at 47. However, three of Utah’s intermountain neighbors finished in the top 10 with New Mexico #1 overall, followed by Colorado at #5 and Nevada at #8.

The study found that Utah ranked 45th in terms of the share of teenagers who used illicit drugs in the past month, and 46th in terms of the share of adults who used illicit drugs in the past month. Utah also ranked 42nd in terms of drug overdose deaths per capita, 31st in terms of the share of adults who couldn’t get treatment for illicit drug use in the past year, and 48th in terms of substance abuse treatment facilities per 100,000 people using illicit drugs.

Utah did not perform as well in a few categories, ranked 17th in terms of opioid pain reliever prescriptions per 100 people and 17th in terms of drug arrests per capita.

“State and local authorities need to support training and resources that help make life-saving medicines like buprenorphine and methadone more available, especially for rural, underserved, and marginalized communities,” said William Eggleston, PharmD – Assistant Professor, Binghamton University; Clinical Toxicologist, SUNY Upstate Medical University. “They also need to make it easier for people to access harm reduction measures, like naloxone and clean syringes. State and local officials should also support conversations and information to decrease stigma.”

And if you suspect a family member or friend may be struggling with prescription drug addiction, Eggleston offers additional advice.

“The best thing you can do if you are concerned about a family member or friend is to offer support and listen without judgment,” Eggleston added in a release. “If they want help getting treatment you can contact the National Helpline (1-800-662-4357) or reach out to a local healthcare provider. You should also talk with your pharmacist or other healthcare professional about getting naloxone.”

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