According to the Mississippi State Department of Health, more than 78 Americans die each day from opioid overdose. In Mississippi, there are 120 painkiller prescriptions per 100 people, among the highest in the country along with Alabama and Tennessee, keeping in mind someone may be prescribed multiple drugs.
The Daily Journal’s own police reports show it’s not uncommon for the authorities to make arrests for drug-linked crimes, including drug users who fall asleep in their cars and are then discovered.