Sales of prescription opioids in the United States has nearly quadrupled from 1999-2014, yet there has been no overall increase in the amount of pain that Americans report.

Despite the increase in doctors who specialize in chronic and acute pain, about half of opioid prescriptions are given by primary care physicians. Most people who end up abusing prescription opioids get them for free from friends or relatives.

The Opioid Epidemic

However, those at the highest risk of overdose (abusing prescription opioids non-medically 200+ days annually) get them through different means. These people get them through their own prescriptions (27%), from friends and relatives for free (26%), buying from friends and relatives (23%), or buying from a drug dealer (15%).

This infographic examines overall and opioid overdose rates by state and examines the percent change from the previous year to reveal what states are in the most danger.