I don't think the numbers agree with your assessment. Taken straight from your PDF link, (emphasis mine) "the increasing overuse of prescription opioid painkil

I don't think the numbers agree with your assessment. Taken straight from your PDF link, (emphasis mine) "the increasing overuse of prescription opioid painkillers, contributing to a national drug overdose epidemic and rising drug poisoning deaths" Look at pages 153, 154 and 155. Drug poisoning deaths per 100,000 resident population (age adjusted) 1999: 6.1, 2015: 16.3 Drug poisoning deaths involving opioid analgesics (other than heroin) per 100,000 resident population 1999: 1.4, 2015: 7.0 Drug poisoning deaths involving heroin per 100,000 resident population 1999: 0.7, 2015: 4.1