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CDC: Opioid deaths may be much higher

Posted at 7:41 AM, Apr 26, 2017
and last updated 2017-04-26 11:51:13-04

The opioid abuse problem in our country may be even worse than previously thought.

A new report from the CDC suggest the number of opioid deaths are significantly underestimated. That's because some of the deaths are listed on paper under another cause.

Researchers looked at a database of unexplained deaths in Minnesota and found more than half of opioid-related deaths were not counted in the state's total for that reason.

Experts say drug users are more vulnerable to infectious diseases which can make it difficult to determine a cause of death.