Hazelden Report: Opiate-Related Deaths Soar

MINNEAPOLIS, June 15 /PRNewswire/ — Accidental overdose deaths from opiates (heroin, methadone, fentanyl, oxycodone) in the Twin Cities grew from 72 in 2004 to 102 in 2005, a 42 percent increase, according to a new report on drug abuse trends released today by the Hazelden Foundation. Cocaine-related deaths grew from 49 to 62 in the same time period and methamphetamine related deaths declined slightly from 20 to 14.

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“Although methamphetamine continues to capture public attention the consequences of opiate abuse and addiction have quietly increased as well,” said Carol Falkowski, Hazelden director of research communications and report author. Opiate-related deaths have outnumbered those for cocaine in the Twin Cities since 2001. “Especially with powerful opiates, accidental overdose is always a possibility for novice and experienced users alike,” she added.

The Hazelden report examines data from medical examiners, hospital emergency rooms, addiction treatment centers and crime labs in the Twin Cities area.

Many school-based counselors reported the continued adolescent abuse of prescription drugs, especially painkillers, medications prescribed for ADHD, and over-the-counter cough and cold products containing dextromethorphan. “Kids who abuse drugs tend to abuse whatever mood-altering substances they can get their hands on,” Falkowski added. “Parents need to be reminded of this as we enter the more unsupervised summer months.”

   Other findings include:    — Admissions to Twin Cities area addiction treatment programs for      methamphetamine accounted for 12 percent of total admissions in 2005,      compared with 3.1 percent in 2000.   — Alcohol-related treatment admissions fell from 54.4 percent of      admissions in 2000, to 45.8 percent in 2005 and marijuana admissions      from 22.3 percent to 17.7 percent.   — Statewide, meth labs declined 78 percent comparing the third quarter of      2005 with the same quarter in 2004    

This is Falkowski’s 40th report on Twin Cities drug abuse trends, which is prepared twice annually for participation in an epidemiological drug abuse monitoring network of the National Institute on Drug Abuse that detects new drugs of abuse, patterns of use, and populations at risk.

The nonprofit Hazelden Foundation, an international provider of addiction treatment, education, research and training since 1949, offers programs, services, and publications for individuals, families, and communities affected by addiction. It has facilities in Minnesota, Oregon, Illinois, and New York.

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Hazelden Foundation

CONTACT: Carol Falkowski, Research Communications, +1-651-213-4566, orChristine Anderson, Corporate Communications, +1-651-213-4231, both ofHazelden Foundation

Web site: http://www.hazelden.org/