
A report issued by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) shows that in 2008 drug poisoning deaths became the leading cause of injury death in the USA, with almost nine out of 10 poisoning deaths caused by drugs. For the first time since 1980 the number of drug poisoning deaths in the United States exceeded those killed on the nations roadways, with 41,000 drug poisoning deaths compared to some 38,000 deaths from traffic accidents. The report, Drug Poisoning Deaths in the United States, 1980–2008 (Download a PDF version at end of story) states that in the past 30 years the number of drug poisoning deaths increased 498 percent – from about … Continue reading