Drug overdoses caused by prescription drug abuse are a growing problem in rural Oklahoma.
The Oklahoman reports that while most overdoses occur in Oklahoma and Tulsa counties, rural counties in the state represent a growing segment of the prescription drug epidemic.
Craig County in northeastern Oklahoma has been the worst in the state in recent years in terms of drug overdoses, both fatal and nonfatal. For the past two years in which information is available, Craig County has posted the highest overdose rates per 10,000 residents in Oklahoma.
Records provided by the state Medical Examiner's Office and Craig County law enforcement agencies indicate 27.3 out of every 10,000 residents experienced an overdose on drugs of abuse in 2013. The year before, the rate was 35.3 of every 10,000 residents.
