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Drug Overdose Deaths In NM Decline In 2012

Drug overdose deaths in New Mexico are down.

KOAT-TV reports reports that 486 people died in New Mexico in 2012, down 7 percent from the year before.

A state Department of Health report says three of every five overdose deaths in 2012 involved men.

Health Secretary Retta Ward says one of the department's main concerns is that overdose deaths due to prescription drugs are increasing.

Among New Mexico counties, Rio Arriba had the highest drug overdose death rate in the state with an average of 67.2 deaths per 100,000 persons from 2008-12.

Mora County was second-highest with a rate of 65.

Bernalillo County's rate was 28.7.

Information From: KOAT-TV.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.