Diverted pharmaceutical products account for more drug-related deaths in one western United States county than any other drug, with the number of deaths in this category increasing annually over the past three years.

Las Vegas is located in Clark County, Nevada, and according to the 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health released by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, methamphetamine and prescription drug abuse was higher in this region than any other location nationwide.

The total number of drug-related deaths in Clark County rose to 476 in 2006. This figure is up from 391 in 2004. Diverted pharmaceuticals lead the way with a total of 165 deaths in 2006. This was up from 115 in 2004, a 43% increase.

By comparison, cocaine-related deaths account for 115 in 2006, methamphetamine deaths totaled 89, and there were 35 heroin-related deaths in the same year. Additionally, numerous autopsies revealed that abusers did not limit themselves to a single substance. It was not uncommon for coroners to discover a combination of pharmaceuticals, stimulants and opiates when analyzing causes of death.

High abuse levels of diverted pharmaceuticals have also been linked to property crime in this region. According to law enforcement officials, pharmaceutical drug abusers are increasingly engaged in identity theft to obtain fraudulent prescriptions for codeine-like oxycodone and hydrocodone drugs. Abusers are also known to be committing pharmacy break-ins to acquire these types of drugs.

With methamphetamine use reaching such high levels, it is not surprising that publicly funded treatment facilities in Nevada report that methamphetamines/amphetamines are the number one reason for substance abuse admissions, even higher than alcohol.

What is most surprising is that diverted pharmaceutical deaths out number methamphetamine deaths by a margin of almost two to one in the Clark County region.

Source: United States Department of Justice 2007 http://www.usdoj.gov/ndic/pubs23/23909/crime.htm