NORTH TEXAS (WBAP/KLIF News) – Northeast Texas has a problem when it comes to over prescribing opioid drugs, according to a Harvard Study.
The results show the area greatly surpasses the national average.
Harvard Ranked states by U.S. Congressional Districts.
Districts 4 and 1, which covers almost all of North Texas, was rated at 90 percent but the national average is about 65 percent.
Becky Vance with Drug Prevention Resources in Dallas said more needs to be done to protect those communities.
“What on Earth is going on in those communities? How can that be? It was eye opening for sure and there was no explanation too,” she said.
In addition to Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and South Carolina were among states with the highest numbers.
Alabama’s Fourth Congressional District has the highest rate of any district in the country, with 166 opioid prescriptions per 100 people.
Pennsylvania and New York were among the lowest.
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