Rx Drug Abuse Explodes

A report released by SAMHSA reveals that treatment admissions for prescription drug abuse increased an astonishing 430 percent from 1999 to 2009. The states hit hardest include Kentucky, Maine, Delaware, Vermont, West Virginia, Maryland, Arkansas, and Rhode Island. In a related note, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that three Americans die from a prescription drug overdose every hour.

Those with the highest rate of misuse and death include non-Hispanic whites, males between the ages of 20 and 64, and individuals residing in poor, rural communities.

Educating your employees about prescription drug abuse can help reduce the impact on your business. Working Partners hosts drug-free safety webinars for business looking to implement a drug-free workplace program.