The number of drug overdose deaths has more than tripled in the US since 1990. More than 100 people die of a drug overdose in the US every day. This increase was not caused by illegal street drugs--the number of deaths from heroin overdose remains relatively constant. The majority of drug overdose deaths in America today are cause by prescription painkillers. Sales of prescription painkillers in the US have tripled since 1999--paralleling the tripling of drug overdose deaths. Project Lazarus in North Carolina is fighting these drug overdose deaths with overdose prevention kits and naloxone, and they are succeeding in turning the tide. Our guests tonight are Project Lazarus workers Fred Wells Brason II and Nabarun Dasgupta who will fill us in on what is happening.
