Drug Deaths Now Outnumber Traffic Fatalities in US
In 2009, drugs exceeded the amount of traffic-related deaths, killing at least 37,485 people nationwide. According to information provided by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the very pharmaceuticals that are prescribed to treat life-endangering conditions are now ending lives. The death toll is partially due to an increase in mental illness medication known as psychotropics, which have been criticized by health experts as being oftentimes unnecessarily prescribed. The pills, given to patients to prevent suicide thoughts and tendencies, may actually lead to suicidal thoughts and suicide.
In 2005, it was found that link between Prozac and suicidal behavior was kept a secret. The BBC even reported in as early as the year 2000 that Prozac ‘led to suicide’. Oftentimes killers will end their own lives after shootings, or attempt to force the cops to kill them. This is essentially a form of suicide with a mixture of murderous tendencies. If Prozac can drive someone to suicide, could it also drive someone to end someone else’s life? Paxil, an anti-depressant drug, was found to be linked to violent behavior in 2006. The link incited multiple lawsuits, and brings up questions as to whether or not similar drugs have the same effects.
The Los Angeles Times reports:
Public health experts have used the comparison to draw attention to the nation’s growing prescription drug problem, which they characterize as an epidemic. This is the first time that drugs have accounted for more fatalities than traffic accidents since the government started tracking drug-induced deaths in 1979.
Fueling the surge in deaths are prescription pain and anxietydrugs that are potent, highly addictive and especially dangerous when combined with one another or with other drugs or alcohol. Among the most commonly abused areOxyContin, Vicodin, Xanax and Soma. One relative newcomer to the scene is Fentanyl, a painkiller that comes in the form of patches and lollipops and is 100 times more powerful than morphine.
 | Natural Society staff contribution |
[…] Během posledních 27 let – což je kompletní časový rámec, ve kterém jsou k dispozici data – zde bylo 0 (nula) úmrtí v důsledku vitamínů a více než 3 miliony úmrtí souvisejících s užíváním léků na lékařský předpis. A za minulých 54 let tu bylo jen 11 úmrtí údajně se pojících s vitamíny, z nichž u žádného nebyl poskytnut žádný podstatný důkaz spojující vitamíny s příčinou smrti. Zpráva přichází po nedávné statistické analýze, která zjistila, že úmrtí z farmaceutických drog nyní převýšila počet úmrtí při dopravních nehodách v USA. […]
[…] and made illegal. Many pharmaceuticals, on the other hand, have gone unchecked despite causing more fatalities than traffic accidents. In fact, even slightly more than the recommended dose of Tylenol can kill you, while THC-free […]
[…] and made illegal. Many pharmaceuticals, on the other hand, have gone unchecked despite causing more fatalities than traffic accidents. In fact, even slightly more than the recommended dose of Tylenol can kill you, while THC-free […]
[…] and made illegal. Many pharmaceuticals, on the other hand, have gone unchecked despite causing more fatalities than traffic accidents. In fact, even slightly more than the recommended dose of Tylenol can kill you, while THC-free […]
[…] vitamins to the cause of death. The news comes after a recent statistically analysis found that pharmaceutical drug deaths now outnumber traffic fatalities in the US. In 2009, drugs exceeded the amount of traffic-related deaths, killing at least 37,485 […]
DEATHS BY CANNABIS ~ EVER = 0 a BIG fat ZERO
Good information about the drug death. Now there are so many people take the medicine for the depression or any other disease and these type of drugs sometimes creates problem for them and they suffer many problems. Most of the people getting depression or some other problems so for getting the relaxation they take the medicine and that can happen the accident.
and marijuana is still illegal, it's so sad…. When will people wake up and realize that the pharmaceutical industry isn't always the answer?
Where are the HARD CORE statistics/references to back up this claims??? Better referencing of credible sources would highly strengthen your articles!!! There are way to many unsubstantiated articles.
Please pass on to editors!!
Thank you.
Is this report from the CDC sufficient? http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db81.htm
I just read a personal testimony a day or two from a person who had taken Celebrex and found herself calmly planning her suicide. She happened to read the drug information which said that "suicidal thoughts and feelings" were a possible side effect. She quit taking it and is alive today. If you commit suicide as a side effect to a drug you've been prescribed, is it suicide? Or murder?
Very interesting, Jill. I have heard countless stories with similar conclusions, and the studies that linked these pharmaceuticals to suicide in 2000-2005 were buried.