Accidental overdose deaths are deaths that result from an excessive intake of drugs and/or alcohol. Some studies indicate that accidental overdose deaths may be on the increase in the United States. For example, a study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine in 2006 analyzed 1,906 unintentional accidental deaths from medical examiner statistics over the period 1994 to 2003 in New Mexico, the state with the highest rate of drug-induced deaths since 1990.

The researchers found that the rate of unintentional prescription drug overdose death increased from 1.9 people per 100,000 in 1994 to 5.3 per 100,000 in 2003, a 179 percent increase. They also found that the highest rates of unintentional drug overdose involved illegal drugs. In considering all the drug overdose deaths, the researchers found that about 77 percent of the people who died were male and about 55 percent were Hispanic, 40 percent were white non-Hispanic, and 2 percent were American Indians. The median age of the decedent was 40 years old. About a third of the drug abuse deaths were caused by both alcohol and drugs in combination.

In limiting the consideration of deaths solely to those caused by prescription drugs alone, the researchers found that 56 percent of the decedents were male, and most were white non-Hispanics (63 percent) or Hispanics (34 percent). The median age at death was 44 years. Most of those who died had lived in metropolitan areas (70 percent).

Opioid painkillers were involved in 77 percent of the deaths caused by prescription drugs, followed by tranquilizers (34 percent), antidepressants (26 percent), and cointoxication with over-the-counter drugs (10 percent). Note that the decedent may have used more than one category of drug that led to death.

The researchers also noted that the proximity to the Mexican border enabled many people to obtain prescription drugs that they could not obtain legally in the United States. They said, "It is probable that drug users chose to use the drugs that are most easily obtained; for instance, in parts of New Mexico near the Mexican border, prescription drugs may be more widely available than illicit drugs."

The researchers also advised physicians prescribing narcotic painkillers, "When prescribing opioid painkillers and other prescription drugs, a healthcare provider's patient encounter should include a discussion of the risks for addiction, the dangers associated with not taking the drug as directed, and the potential interactions that can occur when taking the drug in combination with other prescribed drugs."

References:

Mueller, Mark R., et al. "Unintentional Prescription Drug Overdose Deaths in New Mexico, 1994-2003." American Journal of Preventive Medicine 30, no. 5 (2006): 423-429.

Free term papers are not written to satisfy your specific instructions. You can use our professional writing services to buy a custom written research paper, term paper, or essay on Drugs and Drug Abuse at affordable price. CustomTermPapers is the best solution for those who seek help in writing term papers, essays, and research papers related to Drugs and Drug Abuse and other relevant topics.