Hospitalizations From Prescribed Drugs Rising Faster Than From Illegal Drugs

An analysis based on data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample shows that the number of hospitalizations due to unintentional poisoning by prescription opioids, sedatives, and tranquilizers increased faster than that of unintentional poisoning by other drugs and substances, including other prescription drugs and illicit substances such as heroin and cocaine. These data suggest increasingly wide availability of these drugs, which poses a risk of poisoning regardless of licit or illicit use.