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Rx Painkiller Overdoses Cause More Fatalities than Car Accidents

Posted on Jan 06, 2012

In a report from Health Day, a newly released government report indicates that prescription painkiller overdoses causes more fatalities in the U.S. than car accidents. Much of this statistic is due to medication errors, which could set grounds for a claim.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the leading cause of accidental deaths in the year 2008 was a result of poisoning, with 90 percent of them being linked to drugs. Most of these drug poisonings were from prescription painkillers, with 40 percent involving opioids.

Over 3 decades, prescription painkiller fatalities have significantly increased, from approximately 6,000 deaths in 1980 to more than 36,500 in 2008. The study also found that over 75 percent of these overdoses were unintentional.

While availability of painkillers has increased, it comes with serious risks such as: 

• addiction;
• misuse;
• overdosing; and
• harmful interactions with other drugs.  

Many patients may not be aware of these potential risks. Doctors should be using extreme caution before deciding to prescribe them; including learning if the patient is already taking another medication that may interfere.

If you were affected by a medication error and you sustained serious injuries, you may be eligible to receive compensation. To learn what your rights are and if there are legal options available, you should speak immediately with a Kentucky medication error lawyer.

Contacting a Kentucky Medication Error Lawyer

A Kentucky medication error lawyer at Gray and White can help you handle every aspect of your medication error claim. If you’ve been injured in Kentucky, contact us today for a free evaluation of your case – 1-800-634-8767 or 502-210- 8942.

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