Abuse of prescription pain medicine in Appalachia more than twice the rate for the rest of the nation

Abuse of prescription painkillers is more than twice as prevalent in Appalachia than the rest of the nation, especially in the region's coalfield, but the largely rural province has relatively few treatment facilities for such abusers, according to a study for the Appalachian Regional Commission, released yesterday.

"Mental health diagnoses for serious problems independent from substance abuse are proportionately higher in Appalachia than in the rest of the nation," especially in Central Appalachia, in white on map, said a press release from the ARC and Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear. (Neither agency had the release on its Web site at the time of this posting; click here for the full report.)

ARC Federal Co-Chair Anne Pope said the problems are "a major impediment to economic growth in the Appalachian region," and Beshear said they are particularly bad in his state's Appalachian counties. The two officials announced a $250,000 grant program to help communities improve their anti-drug programs.

"The study wasn't all bad news," notes Bill Estep of the Lexington Herald-Leader. "It found relatively lower marijuana and cocaine use in Appalachia and lower treatment admission rates for heroin. It also found that while there might be 'hot spots' of methamphetamine abuse, use of the drug was lower overall in Appalachia than in the United States." (Read more)