Saturday, December 10, 2011 - Page updated at 05:46 p.m.

National deaths and preferred drug lists

Methadone death rates across the country vary from a low of 1.1 per 100,000 people in South Dakota to a high of 19.6 people in West Virginia, when measured cumulatively for the seven most recent years data are available.

Washington's rate of 15.6 is the nation's fourth highest. This graphic also shows which states have included methadone on their preferred drug lists for patients whose health care is subsidized by the state. Of the 46 states with a preferred drug list, 15 have rejected methadone.