California Data Show Drug Overdose Fatalities Up by 35% Over Last Decade
Accidental drug overdose fatalities in California have increased by 35% during the last decade, with about one resident dying on average every three hours, according to the latest data from the state Department of Public Health. The data show about 15,725 state residents died after an overdose between 2008 and 2012, compared with about 14,860 Californian deaths attributed to car wrecks during that time period.
- "More Californians Now Die From Drug Overdoses Than From Car Wrecks" (Reese, Sacramento Bee, 11/21).