Poisoning-related Deaths in 2004

In 2004, poisoning became the second leading cause of death by injury in the United States following motor-vehicle traffic deaths. The state age-adjusted poisoning death rate ranged from 4.6 to 19.4 per 100,000 population. States with the highest rates included West Virginia (19.4), New Mexico (18.4), Utah (17.7), and Nevada (17.3). Nine of ten poisoning deaths were caused by drugs, 7% by inhalation of gases and vapors, 1% by alcohol, and 1% by other substances. Poisoning deaths included deaths classified as unintentional (69%), suicides (19%), deaths of undetermined intent (11%), and homicides (0.3%).

Data Source:

CDC. CDC Wonder. Compressed mortality file, 2004. Available at http://wonder.cdc.gov/mortsql.html.

Source:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. QuickStats: Death Rates from Poisoning, by State --- United States, 2004.MMWR 2007:56(36);938.

More Information

• National Poison Prevention Week
• CDC Poison Feature
• Fact Sheet: Poisoning in the United States
• Tips To Prevent Poisonings
• Poisoning Prevention: Partner Organizations
• CDC Wonder
• NCHS: Increases in Poisoning and Methadone-Related Deaths, 1999-2005

Unintentional Poisoning Deaths
Listen To This Podcast… [PODCAST - 6:12 minutes] (A Cup of Health with CDC)
In 2004, poisoning was second only to motor-vehicle crashes as a cause of death from unintentional injury in the United States. Nearly all poisoning deaths are attributed to abuse of prescription and illegal drugs. Previous reports indicated a substantial increase in unintentional poisoning mortality during the 1980s and 1990s. This report summarizes the most recent data, which indicated that poisoning mortality rates in the United States increased by 62.5 percent during 1999–2004. (Created: 2/9/2007 by MMWR) Date Released: 3/30/07

Unintentional Poisoning Deaths
Listen To This Podcast… [PODCAST - 1:06 minutes] (A Minute of Health with CDC)
In 2004, poisoning was second only to motor-vehicle crashes as a cause of death from unintentional injury in the United States. Nearly all poisoning deaths are attributed to abuse of prescription and illegal drugs. Previous reports indicated a substantial increase in unintentional poisoning mortality during the 1980s and 1990s. This report summarizes the most recent data, which indicated that poisoning mortality rates in the United States increased by 62.5 percent during 1999–2004. (Created: 2/9/2007 by MMWR) Date Released: 3/30/07