Overdose deaths in Utah rising while the national average decreases
Oct 25, 2024, 11:30 AM
Utah overdose deaths have risen throughout the state. (Tetra images RF/Getty Images)
(Tetra images RF/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY — Overdose deaths in Utah rose 8% this past year, while the national average saw a decrease at 3%.
To combat this growing issue, Mountain Star Healthcare (MSH) Vice President for Pharmacy Services, Janet Zarndt said the organization has been working to prescribe 25% fewer opioids.
“Other medications [have] proven just as effective as opioids for pain,” Zarndt said. “And so we can reduce the chances of patients becoming addicted.”
Local law enforcement and healthcare providers are also fighting the overdose issue by taking part in National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, which happens on Saturday.
People can take their unused prescription drugs to police stations and hospitals to be disposed of safely.
“Get those medications out of households and not have misused or prescription drug abuse starting in our own households,” Zarndt said.
Zarndt said MSH alone has collected over 2,000 pounds of prescription drugs in Utah over the past six years.
However, with numbers still on the rise, she said there is still a lot of work to be done.
Britt Johnson is a reporter and anchor at KSL NewsRadio.
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