DEA ARCOS Opioid Distribution: County-Level Pill Tracking

Analysis of DEA ARCOS opioid distribution data across 1,824 U.S. counties. Tracks oxycodone and hydrocodone shipments from distributors to pharmacies between 2006 and 2014. Based on the Washington Post ARCOS dataset, a 500,000-record sample from approximately 178 million total transactions.

Los Angeles County (CA) recorded the highest pill volume in this sample at nearly 8 million pills. McKesson Corporation was the top distributor with over 122 million pills shipped to 49 states. The three largest distributors (McKesson, Cardinal Health, AmerisourceBergen) controlled the majority of distribution volume.

Data sourced from DEA ARCOS via Washington Post investigative reporting. All counts are sample-based and should not be cited as national totals.