CDC Report Links Methadone to Overdose Deaths

Why it matters locally: West Virginia has been among the states hardest hit by the opioid crisis, making this CDC finding on methadone's disproportionate role in overdose deaths particularly relevant to public health officials and treatment providers across the state.

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Methadone prescriptions represented approximately 2% of all painkiller prescriptions in the United States in 2009. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that the drug was involved in over 30% of prescription painkiller overdose deaths during the same year. The CDC released these findings in a Vital Signs report today. The report highlights a disproportionate impact of methadone on overdose fatalities relative to its prescription frequency. Further analysis is anticipated to investigate the reasons behind this disparity.