Unintentional Poisoning

Every day, nearly 82 people die as a result of unintentional poisoning; another 1,941 are treated in emergency departments.1 Unintentional poisoning deaths in the United States increased by 145% from 1999 to 2007.1

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In the Spotlight: Prescription Painkiller Overdoses

Vital Signs: Prescription Painkiller Overdoses in the US

Policy Impact: Prescription Painkiller Overdoses

Related Resources

Data & Statistics

This graph shows the rate of drug overdose deaths has more than tripled from less than four deaths per 100,000 population in 1990 to over 12 deaths per 100,000 population in 2008. Drugs include illicit, prescription, and over-the-counter drugs.

Drug overdose death rates in the US have more than tripled since 1990 and have never been higher. In 2008, more than 36,000 people died from drug overdoses, and most of these deaths were caused by prescription drugs.

Graphic source: Policy Impact: Prescription Painkiller Overdoses

More data & statistics

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References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS) [online]. (2010) [cited 2010 Nov 30]. Available from URL: www.cdc.gov/injury/wisqars

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1 in 20 people, age 12 or older, reported using prescription painkillers for nonmedical reasons in the past year. CDC Vital Signs www.cdc.gov/VitalSigns/PainkillerOverdoses/

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