BECKLEY, W.Va. — Using 16 years’ worth of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data, a report called “Overdose” has identified Wyoming County as the No. 1 county in the nation for prescription drug overdose deaths.
The data, examined by DrugAbuse.com, shows that from 1999 to 2014, Wyoming County had a prescription drug overdose death rate of 54.6 per 100,000 people.
“I know we have a drug problem in Wyoming County,” said Wyoming County Commission President Larry Mathis. “But there’s a drug problem all over the U.S. and the whole state of West Virginia.”
Of the 30 counties identified with the highest rates, 10 counties are in West Virginia, and four southern West Virginia counties were ranked No. 1 through No. 4…
