Unintentional Poisonings Put Dallas Residents at Risk

Unintentional poisonings are a serious problem in the United States, and it's a problem that continues to get worse. Every day, more than 80 people die from unintentional poisonings, and an additional 2,000 are treated in emergency rooms.

A poison is defined as any substance, including medication, which is harmful to a person if he or she inhales, consumes, injects, or absorbs too much of it. Some people think that if a doctor prescribes a drug that it is safe, but nothing could be further from the truth.

Some prescription drugs, taken alone or in combination with other drugs, are very dangerous and should be taken with extreme caution.

Most cases of poisoning in the United States occur unintentionally. In fact, according to recent data, approximately three quarters of all poisoning deaths in the United States in 2007 were unintentional. Only motor vehicle crash fatalities accounted for more unintentional deaths. Of those unintentional poisoning deaths in 2007, almost all were caused by prescription drugs, including pain medications, such as methadone, hydrocodone, and oxycodone.

In addition to the terrible death and injury toll, the annual medical and productivity costs for poisonings can easily top $30 billion.

Adults have the greatest risk of dying from unintentional poisoning. In fact, adults between the ages of 45 and 49 are most at risk, with men twice as likely to die from poisonings as women. Things aren't improving either-death rates for unintentional poisoning have been steadily rising since 1992.

To learn more about prescription drug poisoning, visit www.pillmillmonitor.com. There, I frequently share news stories and views about prescription drug poisoning and dangerous drugs to avoid.