> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.foodconsumer.org/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Prescription drugs kill more people than illicit drugs
- URL: https://www.foodconsumer.org/prescription-drugs-kill-more-people-than-illicit-drugs/
- Published: 2008-06-18T13:11:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-22T16:02:05.000Z
- Description: Florida's Medical Examiners Commission found prescription drugs caused three times as many deaths as all illicit drugs combined, based on 168,900 autopsies performed in 2007. Cocaine, heroin and methamphetamines accounted for 989 deaths; legal opioids such as Vicodin and OxyContin for 2,328.
- Author: Food Consumer
- Tags: Drug, Health News, #vivvo-import

The Florida Medical Examiners Commission this week released a report saying that "the rate of deaths caused by prescription drugs was three times the rate of deaths caused by all illicit drugs combined", [The New York Times](http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/14/us/14florida.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&ref=foodconsumer.org) reports.

The conclusion was derived from an analysis of 168,900 autopsies performed in 2007 in Florida. 

According to the report, cocaine, heroin and all methamphetamines caused a total of 989 deaths while legal opinoid drugs - strong painkillers in brand name drugs such as Vicodin and OxyContin, caused 2,328.

The number of people was found to have heroin in their dead bodies increased 14 percent in 2007 to 110 while deaths related to opinoid oxycodone increased 36 percent to 1,253.

For more information, read the full report. [http://www.fdle.state.fl.us/CJST/MEC/Publications/2007%20Drug%20Report.pdf](http://www.fdle.state.fl.us/CJST/MEC/Publications/2007%20Drug%20Report.pdf?ref=foodconsumer.org)

By Sue Mueller  
Jun 18, 2008 - 8:09:06 AM