For the first time since the 1940s, there is a new number-one cause of unintentional injury deaths for Americans ages 25-64: prescription drug overdoses.
According to a report by the National Safety Council, only three states (Kentucky, Vermont and Washington) have met the standards for all four areas in preventing prescription drug overdoses, including: state leadership and action, prescription drug monitoring programs, responsible painkiller prescribing and overdose education and prevention programs. The other 47 states are currently lacking key components.
According to the report, Prescription Nation: Addressing America’s prescription drug abuse epidemic, 1.4 million emergency room visits were made in 2011 related to the misuse or abuse of prescription medicines, and 45 people die every day from overdoses of prescription pain relievers. That being said, NCS is now urging the remaining 47 states to take action to improve their own existing standards if they wish to reduce the number of deaths involving prescription drug overdoses.
For more information on prescription pain killer abuse, click here.
Click here to view the full report.