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More Oklahomans died from meth overdose in 2015 than Rx drugs

1.4.16 – Jaclyn Cosgrove, The Oklahoman

Even though the number of meth labs across Oklahoma continues to shrink, the number of residents dying from the drug continues to grow, state data shows.

In 2015, more Oklahomans died from unintentional drug overdoses from methamphetamine — 226 deaths — than any other drug. That’s compared to 154 deaths from meth in 2014.

Oklahoma law enforcement agencies found only 54 meth labs in 2016 — compared to 913 labs in 2011, according to preliminary data from the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control.

“This is due to tighter sale restrictions on the main ingredient, pseudoephedrine, plus an abundance of Mexican-sourced meth known as ‘ice’ or ‘crystal meth’ pouring across the border over the last five years, which reduced the need of local meth addicts to manufacture their own supply at home,” said Mark Woodward, narcotics bureau spokesman.

Meanwhile, prescription drug abuse continues to plague Oklahoma.

Although meth was involved in the most deaths in 2015, seven prescription drugs made the list of the top 10 drugs causing unintentional drug overdose deaths in Oklahoma.

Read more here.