Female Brains & Painkiller Overdoses, 2

Prescription painkiller overdoses are a serious and growing problem among women according to the CDC. Recently released statistics showed that:

• More than 5 times as many women died from prescription painkiller overdoses in 2010 as in 1999.

• Women between the ages of 25 and 54 are more likely than other age groups to go to the emergency department from prescription painkiller misuse or abuse. Women ages 45 to 54 have the highest risk of dying from a prescription painkiller overdose.

• Non-Hispanic white and American Indian or Alaska Native women have the highest risk of dying from a prescription painkiller overdose.

• Prescription painkillers are involved in one in ten suicides among women.

http://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/PrescriptionPainkillerOverdoses/index.html

Part 3 tomorrow