We’re becoming a junkie state — or, at least, a dangerously injury-prone state.

Drug overdose has become the leading cause of injury-related deaths in Pennsylvania, according to a study released last week.

The state’s rate of overdose deaths per 100,000 people aged 1 to 44 has more than doubled over a decade, from 7.8 in 2002 to 19.3 in 2013, the latest year for which data is available. That’s the ninth-highest mortality rate among all the states. West Virginia was No. 1 with 33.5 overdose deaths per 100,000.

The study, by the nonprofit Trust for America’s Health, tallied deaths from all injuries including drug overdoses, motor vehicle crashes, homicides and other causes.

Pennsylvania’s aggregate score for 2013 was 64.3 injury-related deaths per 100,000. The state’s rate has increased steadily since 2002, when the injury mortality rate was 35.1 deaths per 100,000.

Overall, the national rate is 58.4 injury-related deaths per 100,000.

One of the study’s many surprises is that the lowest injury-related mortality rates are in New York (40.3) and California (44.6). They also had among the lowest rates of drug overdose deaths: 10.4 per 100,000 in New York and 10.7 in California.

The obvious question is: What are California and New York doing that Pennsylvania isn’t?

The report includes a 10-point “report card” tabulating factors related to injury prevention policy: things like a primary seat belt law; mandatory ignition interlocks for all convicted drunk drivers; homicide and child abuse/neglect rates; a prescription drug monitoring database; and availability of the overdose antidote naloxone.

States with policies, regulations or incentives in place got one point for each factor covered.

New York state scored nine out of the 10 factors covered; California had seven. Pennsylvania had four.

The report emphasizes the correlation between accident prevention and fewer injury-related deaths.

“Injuries are not just acts of fate. Research shows they are pretty predictable and preventable,” said Jeffrey Levi, Ph.D., executive director of the Trust For America’s Health. “This report illustrates how evidence-based strategies can actually help prevent and reduce motor vehicle crashes, head injuries, fires, falls, homicide, suicide, assaults, sexual violence, child abuse, drug misuse, overdoses and more.

“It’s not rocket science, but it does require common sense and investment in good public health practice.”

It’s no wonder Pennsylvania ranks 23rd for the highest rate of injury-related deaths, and that an increase in drug overdose fatalities is a prime contributing factor.

We can and should be doing better.