THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS REPORTING A DROP IN DRUG OVERDOSE DEATHS IN 2012 FOR NEW MEXICO. STATE EPIDEMIOLOGIST MICHAEL LANDEN TELLS 770 KKOB LAST YEAR'S RATES WERE DOWN 7 PERCENT COMPARED TO 2011, WITH 486 OVERDOSE DEATHS. HE SAYS IT AMOUNTS TO JUST OVER 24 DEATHS PER 100-THOUSAND RESIDENTS.
LANDEN SAYS MOST OF THE DEATHS ARE FROM PRESCRIPTION DRUGS, PRIMARILY OPIOID PAINKILLERS.
RIO ARRIBA COUNTY HAD THE HIGHEST OVERDOSE RATE AT 67-POINT-2 DEATHS PER 100-THOUSAND PERSONS. BERNALILLO COUNTY'S O-D DEATH RATE WAS 28.7 DEATHS PER 100-THOUSAND PEOPLE.
