Deaths related to prescription drug overdoses were down in the state of Georgia according to the latest number by the GBI.
A media release from the agency cites an analysis of autopsies performed by the GBI Medical Examiner’s Office.
That study involved 152 counties in which drug overdose was either the cause of death of a significant contributing factor in the death.
It showed prescription drug overdose deaths in 2018 were lower that they previous three years, while overdose deaths attributed to illegal drugs were higher than they have been during the same period.
The statistics did not include data from autopsies performed in Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett, Hall, Henry, or Rockdale counties.
There were 861 total drugs deaths in 2018; 303 from prescription drugs, 441 illicit drug deaths, 115 from a combination of the two and two deaths from over-the-counter drugs.
Nearly 60% of those deaths were males, 83%were white, 14% black, 1.5% Hispanic and .02% Asian.
Deaths from: 2018
Rx Only 303
Illicit Only 441
Combination of Rx and Illicit 115
OTC - 2
Total Deaths 861
For overdose drug deaths in 2018, the drugs found through toxicology tests in the highest numbers were as follows:
Drug:
Methamphetamine 304
Cocaine 144
Fentanyl/Analogues 138
Oxycodone 136
Alprazolam 129
Heroin 124
Gabapentin 99
Methadone 70
Morphine 60
Diphenhydramine 58
A breakdown by race and sex for 2018 for all drug overdose deaths follows:
Race Number of Deaths Percentage
White 720 83.62%
Black 125 14.52%
Hispanic 13 1.51%
Asian 2 0.02%
Gender Number of Deaths Percentage
Male 512 59.46%
Female 349 40.53%
A breakdown on the manner of death for 2018 drug overdose deaths follows:
Manner of Death Number of Deaths Percentage
Accidental 777 90.24%
Suicide 72 8.36%
Undetermined 12 1.39
