Adolescent Substance Abuse Articles
Drug-related poisonings on the rise in many states
By Staff Writer
An individual who engages in prescription drug abuse is intentionally using medication in a way other than prescribed, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. This behavior can lead to risks such as forming an addiction or experiencing an overdose.
The amount of drug-related poisonings has risen in recent years and overtaken car crashes as the leading cause of accidental death in many states.
In a recent study, health professionals from The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital examined data on emergency department visits for drug-related poisonings. For 2007 alone, they identified approximately 700,000 visits which cost nearly $1.4 billion in charges.
On average, this translates to 1,900 drug-related emergency department visits and $3.8 million in charges every day.
Of the poisonings, 24 percent were caused by antidepressants and tranquilizers while 23 percent were the result of pain and fever control medicines.
For researchers, these numbers shine light on a public health emergency that they say requires a decisive and coordinated response at the national, state and local levels. They are also concerned by findings that show children 5 years and younger had a higher rate of emergency department visits for unintentional drug-related poisonings than all other age groups.
Individuals who have formed a dependence on prescription medication may want to pursue substance abuse help from a drug rehab facility.
