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Overdoses of tranquilizers
The National Center for Health Statistics doesn’t keep track of Xanax overdose deaths, but it provides the number of overdose deaths attributable to benzodiazepines, the class of tranquilizer that includes Xanax, Valium, Librium and other central nervous system depressants.

Number of benzodiazepine overdose deaths in the U.S.:
2004        2,627
2005        3,084
2006        3,835
2007        4,500
2008        5,010
2009        5,567
2010        6,497
2011        6,872
2012        6,524
2013        6,973
2014        7,945
Source: National Center for Health Statistics

Palm Beach County deaths where alprazolam (Xanax) toxicity or intoxication was a factor:
2004          3
2005          3
2006          4
2007          7
2008        12
2009          6
2010        18
2011          7
2012          8
2013        12
2014          4
Source: Palm Beach County Medical Examiner Year End Statistics

— Compiled by Michelle Quigley