Description: Percent of people in Western NC in 2009 - 2013 who died of unintentional medication/drug overdose from Methadone (may be compared to "Other opioids", "Other synthetic narcotics" and Heroine).

Definitions for medication/drug categories:

• Methadone is a synthetic opioid usually associated with treatment for drug abuse
• Other opioids could include hydrocodone (e.g., Vicodin), oxycodone (e.g., OxyContin, Percocet), morphine (e.g., Kadian, Avinza), codeine, and related drugs
• Other synthetic narcotics could include bath salts, synthetic marijuana, incense, air fresheners, things known as “designer drugs”

Highlights: Methadone caused the highest proportion of drug overdose deaths (25.4%) in Buncombe County in the period 2009-2013. Narcotic painkillers such as methadone, oxycodones, and hydrocodones are the cause of the majority of unintentional poisoning deaths in North Carolina.

Source: NC Department of Public Health, Chronic Disease and Injury Section, Injury and Violence Prevention Branch. Updated 1/8/16. http://www.injuryfreenc.ncdhhs.gov/DataSurveillanc...