curious info about poisonings in the US

[Guest guest]

Forwarded...

 

 

 

Seems the pharmaceutical industry creates more poison than anyone else...

 

 

 

Poisoning in the United States: Fact Sheet

_http://www.cdc.gov/HomeandRecreationalSafety/Poisoning/poisoning-factsheet.

htm_

(http://www.cdc.gov/HomeandRecreationalSafety/Poisoning/poisoning-factsheet.htm)

 

In 2004, 95% of unintentional and undetermined poisoning deaths were

caused by drugs

 

In 2004, 75% of poisoning suicides were caused by drugs—both legal and

illegal. The most commonly used drugs identified in drug-related suicides were

psychoactive drugs, such as sedatives and antidepressants, followed by

opiates and prescription pain medications

 

Most (93%) nonfatal, poison-related suicide attempts involved

pharmaceuticals. Among the 132,582 drug-related suicide attempts in the United

States

in 2005, sedatives and hypnotics, pain medications, and antidepressants were

the most common drugs taken. Among pain medications, opioids were the most

widely used, while benzodiazepines were the most common sedatives

 

In 2000, poisonings led to $26 billion in medical expenses and made up 6%

of the economic costs of all injuries in the United States.

* Males accounted for 75% of the total costs of poisoning injuries

($19 billion).

* Females accounted for 25% of the total costs of poisoning injuries

(almost $7 billion) (Finkelstein et al. 2006).