Mountain State leads U.S. in rate of overdose deaths

· In 2008, 390 West Virginians died from accidental overdoses involving prescription drugs, according to the state Health Statistics Center. In 2001, 91 West Virginians died this way.

· West Virginia has the nation's highest rate of drug deaths. Between 2001 and 2008, more than nine out of 10 of those deaths involved prescription drugs.

· Drug overdoses now kill more West Virginians each year than car accidents do. It’s the leading cause of accidental deaths in the state.

· Between 2001 and 2008, the statewide death rate of overdoses involving prescription drugs more than quadrupled, from 5.1 deaths per 100,000 residents to 21.5.