The Las Vegas Sun analyzed the Drug Enforcement Administration's controlled substances consumption database and discovered that Nevadans, per capita, are the nation's number one users of hydrocodone, the narcotic in Vicodin and Lortab, and number four consumers of the narcotic painkillers methadone, morphine and oxycodone. The data showed a skyrocketing rise in narcotic consumption in Nevada and nationwide in the past decade.
Judges' comments: In "The New Addiction," Las Vegas Sun reporters unveil a stunning increase in the use of prescription painkillers, with Nevada leading a national trend. This deeply reported series of stories underscored regulatory gaps and prompted immediate reaction.