ATLANTA, Apr 3, 2008 (UPI via COMTEX) -- A government report said poisoning is
the second-leading cause of injury death in the United States after motor
vehicle accidents.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said 32,691 people died of
poisoning deaths in 2005, up 2 percent from the previous year. Motor vehicle
traffic deaths accounted for 43,667 deaths that year.
Poisoning deaths were more likely to be classified as unintentional rather than
as suicides or homicides, with 72 percent classified as unintentional in 2005.
The CDC said unintentional drug poisonings, which are the largest component of
poisoning deaths, are primarily related to drug overdose.
The report said doctors who prescribe narcotics such as methadone or oxycodone
should be aware of the risks associated with the drugs that are contributing to
these deaths.
"Whether the drugs are not prescribed correctly, are not taken according to the
physician's directions, or are diverted from a patient to someone else cannot be
ascertained, but all possibilities must be considered," the CDC said.
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