Heroin Overdose Deaths Rose Across Many States in 2012

Why it matters locally: Kentucky was among the states tracked in the CDC analysis, with heroin overdose deaths rising during this period as part of a nationwide trend affecting public health resources across the region.

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Heroin overdose fatalities increased significantly in many states, according to data published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report featured the analysis. Researchers examined death certificate information from 28 states in their assessment. The data showed an upward trend in heroin-related deaths across a substantial portion of the investigated regions. While the report highlights a widespread increase, specific details regarding the magnitude of the increase in individual states were included in the full report released by the CDC.