Drug Overdose Surpasses Traffic Related Deaths in Leading Cause of Death

The BMJ (formerly the British Medical Journal) reported that drug overdose has become the leading cause of death from injury in the US based on a report by the Trust for America’s Health. As prescriptions for opioids have increased the number of deaths from drug overdose has risen and has surpassed traffic related deaths as the leading cause of death from injury in this country. Half of these overdose deaths are due to prescription medications.

The report states that all injury related deaths in the US have remained stable in about half of the states, increased significantly in 17 states and stable in the rest. Injuries are the leading cause of death for Americans ages 1 to 44 leading to about 193,000 deaths per year.