La Mesa, CA Detox and Rehab Centers

While the rates of all drug overdose deaths have been slowly decreasing across the country, in many states, the number of lives lost specifically to opioid drugs like prescription painkillers and heroin has not been on the decline. In and around La Mesa, California, the same trend is apparent.

According to the San Diego County Prescription Drug Abuse Task Force, overdoses due to prescription drugs very often occur on their own, but many times other drugs are also found during an autopsy. For example, they found that, in 2015, the following was true about what substance or substances were present in the system at the time of prescription drug overdose death in San Diego County:

• Only prescription medications: 130 people
• Prescription drugs and illicit drugs: 61 people
• Alcohol and prescription meds: 35 people
• Prescription drugs, illicit drugs, and alcohol: 13 people
• Over-the-counter medications and prescription medications: 5 people¹

If your loved one is using prescription medications recreationally, taking more than prescribed, or combining the medication with other substances, now is the time to act. Overdose can happen at any time, and it is imperative that your family member get the help necessary to stop taking all addictive substances and stay sober for the long-term.

1. San Diego County Prescription Drug Abuse Task Force. 2016 Rx Report Card.