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Prescription drugs are responsible for three of every four overdose deaths in Oklahoma. The figures show the number of 2012 overdoses in which each listed drug was present. Because some overdoses involve a combination of drugs, the totals overlap somewhat. All of the listed drugs were dispensed as prescription pharmaceuticals except methamphetamine and cocaine, most of which is manufactured illegally.

Drug	Number of Deaths
Hydrocodone	176
Oxycodone	172
Methamphetamine	140
Alprazolam	128
Morphine	89
Methadone	83
Fentanyl	63
Cocaine	50
Source: Oklahoma State Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs

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Biggest Killers

by Warren Vieth, Oklahoma Watch
February 7, 2014

<h1>Biggest Killers</h1>
<p class="byline">by Warren Vieth, Oklahoma Watch <br />February 7, 2014</p>
 
<p>Prescription drugs are responsible for three of every four overdose deaths in Oklahoma. &nbsp;The figures show the number of 2012 overdoses in which each listed drug was present. Because some overdoses involve a combination of drugs, the totals overlap somewhat. All of the listed drugs were dispensed as prescription pharmaceuticals except methamphetamine and cocaine, most of which is manufactured illegally.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-table tablepress tablepress-id-39">
<table class="">
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Drug</th>
<th>Number of Deaths</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Hydrocodone</td>
<td>176</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Oxycodone</td>
<td>172</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Methamphetamine</td>
<td>140</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Alprazolam</td>
<td>128</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Morphine</td>
<td>89</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Methadone</td>
<td>83</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Fentanyl</td>
<td>63</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Cocaine</td>
<td>50</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Source: Oklahoma State Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>


 <p>This <a target="_blank" href="https://oklahomawatch.org/2014/02/07/biggest-killers/">article</a> first appeared on <a target="_blank" href="https://oklahomawatch.org">Oklahoma Watch</a> and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.<img src="https://i0.wp.com/oklahomawatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/okwatch-icon.png?fit=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1" style="width:1em;height:1em;margin-left:10px;"><img id="republication-tracker-tool-source" src="https://oklahomawatch.org/?republication-pixel=true&post=1765&amp;ga3=UA-41441228-1" style="width:1px;height:1px;"></p>

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