Over the past two years, prescription drugs have killed more people in Utah than car crashes.

Prescription pain medication overdoses claimed 317 lives last year and 307 the year before, making it the No. 1 cause of injury death in the state. Such deaths -- whether because of abuse or accident -- more than doubled here between 1999 and 2004, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Utah currently leads the nation in prescription drug abuse, according to the state Health Department. About 6.5 percent of residents use prescription painkillers for nonmedical purposes, including nearly one in seven people between 18 and 25. The majority of crimes committed in Utah are linked to substance abuse, and about 70 percent of today's jail and prison inmates have substance-abuse problems.

To call attention to these problems, Gov. Jon Huntsman on Thursday night declared this week "Prescription Safety Awareness Week."

As part of his formal declaration, Huntsman reiterated the state's goal to "reduce the number of unintentional prescription pain medication overdoses in Utah by 15 percent by 2009" -- a goal first set forth in the Pain Medication Management and Education Bill of 2007.

It's the latest step in a comprehensive plan prompted by last year's Legislature, which approved $300,000 in funding to combat the rising trend of prescription drug-related deaths. Two public education campaigns have also targeted the problem: "Use Only as Directed," which reinforces the importance of safe medicine use; and "Clean Out the Cabinet," a national initiative pushing the proper disposal of old drugs.

Though overdose deaths rose statewide from 2006 to 2007, Utah County seems to be faring better. During the same time, deaths linked to prescription narcotics fell here from 86 to 77 -- the lowest toll since 2004.

Health districts across the state are convening groups to address prescription drug abuse concerns on a local level. In Utah County, a diverse group of health, law enforcement, political and educational leaders called the Utah County Coalition is currently gathering data from the county's municipalities. Coordinator Kye Nordfelt said that once the coalition has the information it needs, it will draw up a comprehensive plan to be implemented over the coming years.

• Ace Stryker can be reached at 344-2556 or astryker@heraldextra.com.