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Preventing Drug Overdoses in Oklahoma
Issues&Answers Board of
Medical
Licensure &
Supervision
Vo l . 2 0
02
Summe r 2 0 1 3
Continued on page 2
Board of Medical
Licensure &
Supervision
101 N.E. 51st Street
Oklahoma City, OK
73105
(405) 962-1400
okmedicalboard.org
Drug overdose deaths in Oklahoma have risen sharply during the past decade,
according to Oklahoma City Addiction Medicine physicians Hal Vorse, MD, and
Billy Stout, MD.
Between 2002 and 2010, the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous
Drugs Control (OBN) reports the number of overdose deaths in the state rose
from 470 to 814 per year. Preliminary data indicates there were at least 795 drug
overdose deaths in Oklahoma in 2011. Seventy-seven percent of the deaths were
due to the use of prescription drugs in combination with other prescription drugs or
alcohol.
Drug overdose deaths now annually outnumber automobile accident fatalities
in the Sooner State.
Many physicians consider such drugs...relatively harmless when used alone.
Many physicians consider such drugs as benzodiazepines, hydrocodone and
carisoprodol relatively harmless when used alone. When used in combination,
however, they can become very lethal. All drugs which depress the central
nervous system become synergistic in their toxicity when used together.
The Oklahoma State Medical Examiner’s Office reported the following drug
overdose death statistics for 2009:
• 351 single agent deaths.
• 441 two or more agent deaths.
• Benzodiazepines (Xanax, Valium), 10 single agent deaths; 181 deaths with
one or more other agents.
• Carisoprodol (Soma), 2 single agent deaths; 46 deaths with one or more
other agents.
• Tramadol (Ultram, Ultracet), 5 single agent deaths; 14 deaths with one or
more other agents.
• Hydrocodone (Lortab, Vicodin, Norco), 20 single agent deaths; 124 deaths
with one or more other agents.
Since the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) classifies hydrocodone as
a Schedule III rather than a more tightly controlled Schedule II drug, some
physicians may conclude that it is safer to use. It is not safer, particularly when
used with other depressant drugs.
The State of Oklahoma only recently designated Tramadol and cariosprodol
as controlled dangerous substances (CDS). Therefore many physicians may
Object Description
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| Title | Summer2013 1 |
| Full text | Preventing Drug Overdoses in Oklahoma Issues&Answers Board of Medical Licensure & Supervision Vo l . 2 0 02 Summe r 2 0 1 3 Continued on page 2 Board of Medical Licensure & Supervision 101 N.E. 51st Street Oklahoma City, OK 73105 (405) 962-1400 okmedicalboard.org Drug overdose deaths in Oklahoma have risen sharply during the past decade, according to Oklahoma City Addiction Medicine physicians Hal Vorse, MD, and Billy Stout, MD. Between 2002 and 2010, the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control (OBN) reports the number of overdose deaths in the state rose from 470 to 814 per year. Preliminary data indicates there were at least 795 drug overdose deaths in Oklahoma in 2011. Seventy-seven percent of the deaths were due to the use of prescription drugs in combination with other prescription drugs or alcohol. Drug overdose deaths now annually outnumber automobile accident fatalities in the Sooner State. Many physicians consider such drugs...relatively harmless when used alone. Many physicians consider such drugs as benzodiazepines, hydrocodone and carisoprodol relatively harmless when used alone. When used in combination, however, they can become very lethal. All drugs which depress the central nervous system become synergistic in their toxicity when used together. The Oklahoma State Medical Examiner’s Office reported the following drug overdose death statistics for 2009: • 351 single agent deaths. • 441 two or more agent deaths. • Benzodiazepines (Xanax, Valium), 10 single agent deaths; 181 deaths with one or more other agents. • Carisoprodol (Soma), 2 single agent deaths; 46 deaths with one or more other agents. • Tramadol (Ultram, Ultracet), 5 single agent deaths; 14 deaths with one or more other agents. • Hydrocodone (Lortab, Vicodin, Norco), 20 single agent deaths; 124 deaths with one or more other agents. Since the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) classifies hydrocodone as a Schedule III rather than a more tightly controlled Schedule II drug, some physicians may conclude that it is safer to use. It is not safer, particularly when used with other depressant drugs. The State of Oklahoma only recently designated Tramadol and cariosprodol as controlled dangerous substances (CDS). Therefore many physicians may |
| Date created | 2013-09-12 |
| Date modified | 2013-09-12 |
