<p>Montana ranks third in the nation for teen prescription drug abuse. State and county anti-drug coalitions are working on initiatives to prevent prescription drug abuse by offering lock boxes for proper disposal of unused drugs. One such box is located at the Mineral County Courthouse in Superior. (Kathleen Woodford/Mineral Independent. )</p>
February 23, 2016
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Prescription drug abuse on the rise
Prescription drug overdose deaths are on the rise across the country, including in Montana, which ranks third in the nation for teen abuse of prescription pain relievers. Between 2011 and 2013, prescription drug overdoses were responsible for at least 369 deaths and more than 7,200 hospital inpatient admissions and emergency department cases, according to the Montana Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Epidemiology and Scientific Support.