Atlanta, GA- An analysis of autopsies performed by the GBI Medical Examiner’s Office in 152 counties, which drug overdose was the cause of death or a significant contributing factor in the death, found there was a 3% increase in the number of prescription overdose deaths in 2012 compared to 2011.

Of the 686 drug overdose deaths in 2012, there were 520 deaths which involved prescription drugs only.  The analysis also showed that 94 drug overdose deaths in 2012 involved only illicit drugs and 72 deaths were attributed to a combination of both prescription and illicit drugs. In 2012, 520 of the 686 overdose deaths were attributed to prescription drugs only.

While that 520 is up from 2011, it remains short of the record 560 deaths that were reported back in 2010. Of those reported dead from prescription drug overdoses, the majority (395) were between the ages of 35-54.

A full list of the stats can be found from the GBI here.