Baton Rouge prescription drug abuse is out of control?

According to data from the coroner's office, there were dozens of deaths in 2012 in Baton Rouge due to overdose. While this includes all drugs such as heroin and other substances, an official from the coroner's office said prescription drugs are to blame for the vast majority.

Mary Jackson, clinical supervisor for the Baton Rouge Area Alcohol and Drug Center, has had some other interesting observations on the subject. The average age of the clients coming in is 23, and most are there for a detox from opiates or a combination of pain pills, she said.

"We're seeing a lot of young people come in," Jackson said. "We didn't used to see this 13 years ago."

The vast majority of the cases are usually young adults - 18 to 29-year-olds combining an opiate such as codeine or Lortab, a benzodiazepine like Xanax or Valium, and alcohol. This is appealing because the opioid mixed with a benzodiazepine produces a better high, one official said.

"Opiate is the new crack cocaine. It's very prevalent," Jackson said.

Jackson said this is a relatively new trend, with an audience decreasing in age. The center's clients are about evenly divided between court-ordered, family and self-referrals, she said.

So the question is - why the sudden surge of prescription drug us in the past year?  Were people using different drugs before or is this a news story that just wasn't being reported on as much as it probably should have been?  

Anyone listening to this show with insight on this news story?  Call us up and let your voice be heard.

-W&J's Producer

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