Alabama Tops Nation With Opioid Prescriptions

Alabamians receive more prescription opioids per person than residents of any other state in the country, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

A joint investigation by The Associated Press and the Center for Public Integrity found organizations spent $880 million and hired an annual average of 1,350 lobbyists in state capitals around the country from 2006 through 2015.

That amounted to more than 200 times what those advocating for stricter policies spent and eight times more than the influential gun lobby recorded for similar activities during that same period.

The organizations lobbying in Alabama ranked 33rd in the country when drug makers’ lobbying hires are compared to all lobbying.