BIRMINGHAM, AL - As the opioid crisis continues to plague the country, a study was released revealing which states reported the most opioid sales in the country. Alabama is among the leaders in that category, placing in the top five.

ConsumerProtect published the results of the study, showing opioid sales today have more than doubled since 2000. In 2017, the national average was 24.4 kg opioids sold per capita, but that figure varies dramatically by location. Tennessee showed the most sales, with a whopping 44.3 kg, and Oklahome placed second with 43.1 kg. Alabama ranked fourth on the list, with 39.4 kg per capita. The District of Columbia has the nation's lowest rate of opioid sales, followed by Minnesota and Illinois.

The 10 states with the most opioid sales in 2017 were: Tennessee: 44.3 Oklahoma: 43.1 Nevada: 40.5 Alabama: 39.4 Arkansas: 37.9 Kentucky: 37.1 Delaware: 33.2 Arizona: 32.9 Utah: 32.7 South Carolina: 32.0 (For more updates on this story and free news alerts for your neighborhood, sign up for your local Patch morning newsletter.)

While sales of Oxycontin have recently been reigned in, their rate of sale continues to be much higher today than two decades ago with states like Tennessee, Oklahoma, and Nevada having the highest rate of sales in the nation. Alabama Senator Doug Jones co-sponsored a bill in April that aimed at improving the ability of the U.S. Departments of Education, Labor, and Health and Human Services to address the crisis, including the ripple effects of the opioid crisis on children, families, and communities, and improve data sharing between states.

"Many communities in Alabama and across our country are struggling to combat the opioid epidemic, and alleviate the harm it has caused to families and to our economy," Jones said.

