One Texas county experiences rise in prescription drug-related deaths

By Staff Writer

Officials from the Nueces County, Texas Medical Examiner's Office recently announced that they have found an increase in prescription drug-related deaths within the state, NBC affliate KRIS reports.

County medical officials told the news source that statistics show prescription drug abuse is killing more young people in the area than ever before. They added that doctors are prescribing these medications to teens and young adults. However, others are obtaining these substances from their parent's or grandparent's medicine cabinets.

Furthermore, teens are combining prescription medication that can create lethal drug interactions that can result in seizures or death. More teens are mixing alcohol with painkillers such as Vicodin and Percocet, which can slow breathing.

They told the news source that teens perceive these medications as safer than street drugs, like cocaine and heroin, because they are prescribed to them by medical professionals. However, these medications are often more potent and deadly when not used in correct dosages. They added that the sales of hydrocodone, which is found in Percocet and Vicodin, is currently booming in Texas.

According to a 2009 study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly one in five high school students have abused prescription drugs at least once during their lifetime.