Chainsaw Injuries Affect Thousands Each Year
While efficient, chainsaws are inherently dangerous tools that cause thousands of chainsaw injuries every year. According to the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission there were over 28,500 chain saw injuries in 1999. More than 36 percent of chainsaw injuries occur to the legs and knees and the average chainsaw injury needs 110 stitches. The annual expense to treat chainsaw injuries in 1989 was 350 million dollars which could mean costs are triple that today.
Workplace Chainsaw Injuries
Assuming a chainsaw injury requires four weeks recovery, worker’s compensation costs were estimated at 125 million dollars annually in 1989. Although not as easily quantified, loss of production and loss of quality of life for the injured party likely account for the single largest cost.
There are 69,000 professional loggers in the U.S. which means that it would cost five million dollars to clothe each of them with one pair of chainsaw chaps (at approximately $75.00 each). When you account for the dangers in the logging industry, however, you can see that investing in safety gear provides a good payback.
Chainsaw Safety Tips
Chainsaw injuries can be minimized by using proper personal protective equipment and safe operating procedures.
Before Starting a Chain Saw
- Check that the saw is in good working order. The controls, chain tension, and all bolts and handles need to be in good repair and adjusted according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Ensure that the chain is sharp and the lubrication reservoir is full.
- Clear away dirt, debris, small tree limbs and rocks from the area you will be sawing. Look for nails and spikes in the tree before cutting.
- Always wear proper personal protective equipment when operating the saw, including hand, foot, leg, eye, face, hearing, and head protection.
- Avoid loose-fitting clothing.
- Before starting the chainsaw, ensure that the trunk or tree limbs will not bind against the saw.
- Watch for branches being held down under tension as they may spring out when cut.
- Only use gasoline-powered chain saws equipped with a protective device that minimizes chain saw kickback.
To Fuel a Chain Saw
- Only use approved fuel containers to bring fuel to the chainsaw.
- Dispense fuel at least 10 feet away from any sources of ignition when performing construction activities.Do not smoke during fueling.Use a funnel or a flexible hose to pour fuel into the saw.
- Never attempt to fuel a chainsaw when it is running or hot from use.
Operating a Chain Saw
- Start the saw on the ground or on another firm support. Drop starting the saw is very dangerous.
- Start the saw at least 10 feet from the fueling area, with the chain’s brake engaged.
- Keep your hands firmly on the saw’s handles, and maintain secure footing while operating the saw.
- Be aware of the potential for saw kick-back. Prevent kick-back by keeping the tip guard in place (if supplied) and never sawing with the tip.
- Shut off the saw or engage the chain brake when carrying the saw on rough or uneven terrain.
Chainsaw Safety Features
Over the years, chainsaw manufacturers have added safety features with the aim of decreasing chainsaw injuries. Some safety features are on every chainsaw and others are only present in areas where they are required by law. Most chainsaw safety features are focused on avoiding kickback through a chain and bar design or reducing the risk of injury should kickback happen through the use of chain brakes.
Chainsaw operators should always wear proper safety gear and inspect a chainsaw in advance to ensure that it is in good working order and has the appropriate safety features.
If you or a loved one were injured in an accident, you have enough to deal with. Let an experienced accident attorney fight for the full compensation that you deserve. It is not uncommon to receive a settlement from the insurance company that is five to ten times bigger with the help of a lawyer. Call the caring accident attorneys at Tario & Associates, P.S. today for a FREE consultation! You will pay nothing up front and no attorney fees at all unless we recover damages for you!
Read MoreIt’s Deer Season: Prevent a Deer Car Accident!
Fall means deer hunting season to many and the reality is that there are more deer running around our neighborhoods and onto our roads at this time of year.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there are approximately 1.5 million deer, elk and moose-car accidents in the United States every year. One-hundred-fifty to 200 of those collisions result in a human fatality, the average damage to a car or truck is $3,103 and the total cost of property damage is estimated at $1.1 billion annually. Deer populations have been growing while being simultaneously displaced by urban sprawl, which is leading to more accidents each year. According to State Farm’s claims data, there were 2.3 million car-deer vehicle collisions for the two-year period ending on June 30, 2010. That’s 21.1 percent more than five years earlier.
Read MoreGun Deaths on Decline
In 2010, guns were involved in the deaths of 31,076 Americans in homicides, suicides, and unintentional shootings. This breaks down to more than 85 deaths each day and more than three deaths each hour. There were also 73,505 Americans treated in emergency rooms for non-fatal gunshot wounds in 2010. Firearms were the third-leading cause of injury-related deaths nationwide in 2010, after poisoning and motor vehicle accidents. The United States accounts for nearly 75 percent of all murdered children in the developed world. American children are 17 times more likely to be murdered by firearms than children in other industrialized nations.
Despite the alarming numbers, gun homicide rates, along with all violent crime, peaked in 1993 and have dropped sharply over the last two decades. Compared with 1993, the firearm homicide rate dropped by 49 percent in 2010 and there were fewer deaths from violent crime, despite the nation’s growing population. The rate for other violent crimes with a firearm such as assaults, robberies, and sex crimes was down 75 percent in 2011 compared to 1993. It is important to note, however, that violence plunged through the 1990s but has declined less significantly since 2000.
Gun Death Statistics
Homicide
- In 2010, guns were involved in 11,078 homicides in the United States. This number accounted for almost 35 percent of all gun deaths and more than 68 percent of all homicides.
- Between 2005 and 2010 there was an average of 33 gun homicides each day.
Suicide
- In 2010, guns were used in 19,392 successful suicides in the United States. This number accounted for almost 62 percent of all gun deaths.
- More than 50 percent of all suicides in the U.S. involve a firearm.
- Between 2005 and 2010 there was on average 49 gun suicides each day.
- White males represent 40 percent of the U.S. population and yet they accounted for over 80 percent of firearm suicides in 2010.
- In 2010, firearms were the weapon of choice in 44 percent of suicide deaths among people under the age of 25.
Unintentional Deaths and Injuries
- In 2010, 606 people were killed in unintentional firearm injuries.
- Between 2005 and 2010, almost 3,800 people in the U.S. died from unintentional shootings.
- On average, states with the highest gun levels had nine times the rate of unintentional firearm deaths compared to states with the lowest gun levels.
The U.S. General Accounting Office believes that 31 percent of unintentional deaths caused by firearms could be prevented by the addition of two devices: a child-proof safety lock (8 percent) and a loading indicator (23 percent).
If you or a loved one were injured in an accident, you have enough to deal with. Let an experienced accident attorney fight for the full compensation that you deserve. It is not uncommon to receive a settlement from the insurance company that is five to ten times bigger with the help of a lawyer. Call the caring accident attorneys at Tario & Associates, P.S. today for a FREE consultation! You will pay nothing up front and no attorney fees at all unless we recover damages for you!
Read MoreHow Much THC Makes You Impaired?
With Washington and Colorado States legalizing marijuana for recreational use, law enforcement tactics are changing. Laws around marijuana have gone from a focus on prohibition to regulation. New laws are being enacted to regulate distribution, taxation, age restrictions, and how much marijuana is reasonable for a person to possess for personal use. One of the more difficult questions to answer is what constitutes legal intoxication and how that correlates to driving while impaired. How stoned is too stoned to drive safely?
Both the Washington and Colorado State Legislatures passed house bills that declare five nanograms as the legal limit for impairment. If a person is pulled over and a blood screen detects five or more nanograms of THC per milliliter of blood in a person’s bloodstream, that individual is considered legally under the influence of drugs.
It can be difficult for a person to know when they are too impaired to drive whether from alcohol or marijuana. The main difference for law enforcement is the easy availability of breathalyzer tests to quantify blood alcohol levels and the relative difficulty of imposing a blood test to check for THC levels. Over time, these sorts of dilemmas will be answered by clear laws but we are not there yet. It is important to note that the body of science describing marijuana’s effects on the brain and body is broad but doesn’t enjoy wide consensus. Five nanograms per milliliter is perhaps a place for policy to start but it might be reasonable to expect changes to the law as scientific consensus is reached.
Driving while stoned is a crime in all 50 states but only some have set actual limits for THC in blood levels. It’s important to note that unlike blood alcohol levels, THC levels in the blood do not necessarily have anything to do with impairment. Marijuana is metabolized in the body’s fat cells and can be detected in the blood for as long as three months after last use in frequent pot smokers.
More than a dozen states have implemented “per se” cannabis driving laws that authorize a DUI conviction, without trial, to anyone exceeding the state’s THC blood limit. Most of those states have legal blood THC limits of zero. The federal government has not gotten on board with the decriminalization of marijuana and is still recommending that all states pass zero-tolerance “per se” driving laws.
The remaining/majority of states have effect-based laws that require evidence of impairment from recent ingestion of a controlled substance before a DUI conviction is authorized. See your state’s marijuana driving laws here.
“Per se” cannabis driving laws have not been shown to reduce traffic fatalities, and they may be inadvertently making criminals out of people who are using a controlled substance in a legal manner.
Washington State passed a “per se” driving law and more and more people are testing positive for marijuana since the substance was made legal for recreational use. It should be noted that the boost in numbers may actually be due to more blood tests rather than an increase in drug use.
If you or a loved one were injured in an accident, you have enough to deal with. Let an experienced accident attorney fight for the full compensation that you deserve. It is not uncommon to receive a settlement from the insurance company that is five to ten times bigger with the help of a lawyer. Call the caring accident attorneys at Tario & Associates, P.S. today for a FREE consultation! You will pay nothing up front and no attorney fees at all unless we recover damages for you!
Read MoreIs it Safe to Drive While Taking Pain Medication?
There are so many Americans taking medication for pain and other ailments that we may not even think to ask whether we are safe to drive while on the prescription. In truth, it is safe to drive while taking most medication but the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advises that it’s best to be absolutely sure before you get behind the wheel.
Some prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medicines can cause reactions that may make it unsafe to drive.
Reactions to medications can include:
- Slowed movement or reaction times
- Fainting
- Sleepiness/drowsiness
- Blurred vision
- Excitability or racing heart
- Dizziness
- Inability to focus or pay attention
- Nausea
Risk of DUI
In some states, driving while under the influence of drugs/medication, whether prescribed or not, can put you at risk for a DUI. If you cause an accident while taking medication, you may find yourself under scrutiny for any medication you were taking at the time of the collision.
Medications that could Cause Unsafe Driving
Keep yourself and others safe. Be cautious if taking any of the following prescription or OTC medications as they could cause a decrease in your driving abilities:
- drugs for anxiety
- pain relievers
- antidepressants
- products containing codeine
- some cold remedies and allergy products
- tranquilizers
- sleeping pills
- diet pills, “stay awake” drugs, and other medications with stimulants such as caffeine, ephedrine, or pseudoephedrine.
Never combine alcohol and medication before driving and be careful of taking more than one medication at a time unless you have been advised by a pharmacist or doctor that they do not combine to cause drowsiness. Be aware that pills containing stimulants may cause excitability or drowsiness.
Be Informed
If you need to drive while taking medication, get all the information you can to ensure the safety of yourself and others on the road. Continue to take your medication in the dosage and times you were prescribed but talk to your doctor or pharmacist about potential side effects so you are prepared. You can request a print-out of the potential risks and side effects for any medication. It is very important to provide a complete record of all the medications you are taking including OTC and herbal products so your doctor or pharmacist can advise about any dangerous overlaps or potential side effects.
With adequate information your doctor may be able to:
- adjust the dose of your medication
- adjust the timing of doses or when you use the medicine to work around key driving times
- add an exercise or nutrition program to decrease the need for medicine
- change the medicine to one that causes less drowsiness or other undesirable side effects that could affect your ability to drive
If you have spoken to your doctor and taken all reasonable precautions but you still feel unsafe to drive, it might be best to look into transportation alternatives. Consider asking for a ride from a friend or family member, taking public transportation, walking, taxi cabs, shuttles buses, or vans. Many senior centers and religious or other local service groups offer transportation services for older adults in the community.
If you or a loved one were injured in an accident, you have enough to deal with. Let an experienced accident attorney fight for the full compensation that you deserve. It is not uncommon to receive a settlement from the insurance company that is five to ten times bigger with the help of a lawyer. Call the caring accident attorneys at Tario & Associates, P.S. today for a FREE consultation! You will pay nothing up front and no attorney fees at all unless we recover damages for you!
Read MoreSenior Women at Twice the Risk for Fall Related Injuries
Tripping and falling happens from time to time but senior citizens (65 and older) are more likely to fall and to become injured from the fall. Every year, millions of adults aged 65 and older fall, causing moderate to severe injuries including hip fractures and head traumas. A hard fall can increase the risk of premature death. Sadly, death rates from falls among older men and women have risen sharply over the past decade.
Senior Fall Statistics
- In 2012, $30 billion dollars was spent on the direct medical costs of falls.
- One out of every three senior citizens experiences a fall each year but less than half report the fall to their doctor.
- Among senior citizens, falls are the leading cause of both fatal and nonfatal injuries.
- In 2012, 2.4 million senior adults were treated for non-fatal falls in emergency departments. More than 722,000 of these patients were hospitalized.
Health Risks from Falls
- Falls are the most common cause of traumatic brain injuries (TBI).
- Almost half of fatal falls among older adults are due to TBI.
- Up to thirty percent of falls cause serious injuries including hip fractures, lacerations, and head traumas. Serious injuries can make it hard to get around or live independently, and increase the risk of early death.
- Most of the time, when a senior experiences a fracture it is from falling. The most common fractures are to the spine, hip, forearm, leg, ankle, pelvis, upper arm, and hand.
- Many times a person who falls develops a fear of falling again which may cause them to limit physical activity. Sadly, decreased physical activity weakens the muscular-skeletal system and actually increases the risk of falling.
Fall-related Deaths
- In 2011, approximately 22,900 senior adults died from unintentional fall injuries.
- Men are at greater risk of dying from a fall than women. After controlling for age, the fall death rate in 2011 was 41 percent higher for men than for women.
Fall Injuries
- Senior women are twice as likely as senior men to experience a fracture from a fall.
- People 75 years and older who experience a fall are four to five times more likely than those aged 65 to 74 to be admitted to a long-term care facility for a year or longer.More than 95 percent of hip fractures are caused by falls. In 2010, there were 258,000 hip fractures from falls.
Fall Prevention Tips
- Regular exercise, particularly activities that increase leg strength and balance can help prevent a fall. Tai Chi or other weight bearing exercises are a great way to built lower body strength and balance.
- Get plenty of calcium and vitamin D from food and/or supplements.
- Get screened and treated, if needed, for osteoporosis.
- Have a doctor or pharmacist analyze all medicines taken, including prescription and over the counter, to identify any that could cause side effects or interactions like dizziness or drowsiness.
- Seniors should have their eyes checked by an optometrist annually to check for overall eye health and ensure that their prescription is up to date. It might be a good idea to get a pair of glasses with single vision lenses for distance only for walking outside.
- Remove tripping hazards from in and around the home.
- Add grab bars to walls for getting in and out of the bathtub or shower and using the toilet.
- Add railings to both sides of stairways.
- Ensure adequate lighting inside and outside of the home.
If you or a loved one were injured in an accident, you have enough to deal with. Let an experienced accident attorney fight for the full compensation that you deserve. It is not uncommon to receive a settlement from the insurance company that is five to ten times bigger with the help of a lawyer. Call the caring accident attorneys at Tario & Associates, P.S. today for a FREE consultation! You will pay nothing up front and no attorney fees at all unless we recover damages for you!
Read MoreDriving Stoned Doubles Risk of Car Accident
As states begin to legalize the medicinal and recreational use of marijuana, the risks of driving while stoned are increasingly being studied by the medical field and debated by lawmakers. A study in the British Medical Journal conducted by Researchers at Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia, Canada found that marijuana use in subjects nearly doubles the risk of vehicle collisions. The study looked at almost 50,000 participants over nine studies on the subject. Except from alcohol, marijuana is the most common narcotic found in impaired drivers, fatally injured drivers, and motor vehicle crash victims. A survey found that 6.8 percent of drivers who were involved in accidents, mostly under the age of 35, tested positive for THC (the chemical found in marijuana).
Part of the problem is the perception that marijuana is safe to use while driving. There are cases where a designated driver smokes marijuana instead of drinking as a “safe” alternative. In general, there is a lot of misconception about the true effect of cannabis on one’s driving ability but it is important to note that cannabis affects everyone differently.
Facts about Driving Stoned
- Drivers who smoke marijuana within a few hours of driving are almost twice as likely to get into an accident as sober drivers.
- Marijuana affects reaction time, spatial sense, and perception.
- Drivers under the influence of marijuana may follow too closely, swerve in and out of lanes,
- make unsafe turns, or misjudge road hazards.
- Many people deny feeling impaired in any way when they are actually stoned, whereas most people recognize when they are intoxicated from alcohol.
- The effects of cannabis tend to wear off within three to four hours and there is nothing one can take to lessen its effects.
The reality is that there is not enough information known about the effects of specific doses of marijuana in relation to car crashes or what level of cannabis in a person’s system correlates most with crashes.
Notes about Current Marijuana Studies
Conclusions reached about marijuana use and car crashes are based on observational studies; there have been no controlled conditions imposed to look at the effects of marijuana and driving. Active metabolites of THC can be present in urine for weeks or even a month after being smoked or ingested. It is presumed that marijuana usage so long ago would not affect driving performance or collisions. The study only analyzed the nine studies where there was a recent measurement of marijuana. They also observed studies that looked at both drivers who used marijuana and those who did not to compare the collision rate.
Driving Laws for Driving While Stoned
Unlike testing for alcohol levels, researchers and law enforcement officials have not yet determined how to accurately test for levels of marijuana intoxication. Many states, however, have begun to put strict laws in place to address this public safety issue and police officers are now being trained to detect signs of marijuana use. Driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of drugs, including legally-used marijuana, is illegal in all states.
If you or a loved one were injured in an accident, you have enough to deal with. Let an experienced accident attorney fight for the full compensation that you deserve. It is not uncommon to receive a settlement from the insurance company that is five to ten times bigger with the help of a lawyer. Call the caring accident attorneys at Tario & Associates, P.S. today for a FREE consultation! You will pay nothing up front and no attorney fees at all unless we recover damages for you!
Read MoreFall Clean-up Accidents
Fall is here and that brings fall projects and fall clean-up. Every year, thousands of Americans are injured in fall clean-up activities including back strains from raking leaves and sprains and broken bones from falling off ladders or roofs while cleaning gutters or windows. In 2010, more than 35,500 people were injured using a stepladder and 532,000 were injured in falls from ladders.
The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) encourages people to take the proper safety precautions to reduce the number of fall clean-up related accidents this season.
Fall Clean-Up Safety Tips:
Raking
- It is best to wait until the majority of the leaves have fallen to do one big fall clean-up. Spot cleaning tends to lead to carelessness and injuries.
- Raking a large yard is vigorous exercise! Warm your body up for at least 10 minutes with some stretching and light exercise before you start.
- Choose a rake that is comfortable for your height and strength. Purchase a heavier, ergonomic rake if possible. The lighter the rake, the more energy you will actually need to use to gather the piles.
- Wear lightweight clothes warm enough to prevent being cold but cool enough to avoid trapping sweat. Shoes should be supportive and comfortable, and should have slip-proof soles in case you walk across a patch of wet leaves.
- To prevent blisters, wear gloves or use rakes with padded handles. You should also vary your movement, alternating your leg and arm positions often.
- To prevent a back injury, do not overfill leaf bags. Never carry or throw a bag over your shoulder or to the side as the twisting motion places undue stress on your back. When you pick up the bag of leaves, separate your feet shoulder-width apart and keep your back straight. To lift, bend at the knees while tightening your stomach and leg muscles. If you are worried that the bag is too heavy or awkward to lift on your own then ask for help!
Ladder Use
- Choose the right ladder for the job. A step ladder is meant for washing windows and other jobs at low or medium heights. An extension ladder is appropriate for cleaning high places, such as the gutters.
- Before use, inspect the ladder for loose screws, hinges or rungs. Clean off accumulated mud, dirt or liquids.
- Before you climb a ladder, make sure all ladder locks and safety braces are in place.
- Never place a ladder on ground or flooring that is uneven, soft, or wet; choose a firm surface.
- Use a sturdy step stool instead of a counter or furniture when cleaning high, hard to reach places.
- When working on a ladder, do not lean so far that your bellybutton has gone beyond the edge of the ladder. Climb down the ladder and reposition it closer to your work area if necessary.
- Never climb a ladder without a spotter.
- Never sit or stand on the top of a step ladder or pail shelf as these areas weren’t designed to hold heavy weights.
If you or a loved one were injured in an accident, you have enough to deal with. Let an experienced accident attorney fight for the full compensation that you deserve. It is not uncommon to receive a settlement from the insurance company that is five to ten times bigger with the help of a lawyer. Call the caring accident attorneys at Tario & Associates, P.S. today for a FREE consultation! You will pay nothing up front and no attorney fees at all unless we recover damages for you!
Read MorePainkiller Deaths: Women
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Vital Signs report released on July 2, 2013 revealed that more than five times as many women died of prescription painkiller overdoses in 2010 than in 1999. This accounted for about 48,000 women dying from painkiller overdoses, an increase of 400 percent over the decade. In 2010, 18 women died every day; about half of all women’s overdose deaths were due to prescription painkillers. Prescription painkillers include opioid or narcotic pain relievers, including drugs like Vicodin, OxyContin, Opana, and methadone.
Statistics on Women’s Painkiller Deaths
- Since 2007, more women have died from drug overdoses than motor vehicle crashes.
- Women aged 45 to 54 years are at the highest risk of dying from a painkiller overdose.
- About 10 percent of women who commit suicide use prescription painkillers.
- Women between 25 and 54 years of age are more likely than any other age group to have to go to the emergency room due to prescription painkiller misuse or abuse.
- For every woman who died of a prescription painkiller overdose, 30 more visited the emergency room for misuse or abuse.
- In 2010, one woman visited the ER every ten minutes related to prescription pain medication.
General Population Painkiller Statistics
- Drug overdose deaths rose for the 11th straight year in 2010; 60 percent of these fatalities involved prescription painkillers.
- Opioid deaths were involved in 75 percent of medication-related deaths.
- Men are still more likely to die from painkiller overdoses than women but the gap between the two genders is closing.
- 70 percent of Americans take prescription drugs at one time or another.
- More kids are being poisoned by prescription drugs as medication prescribing rates increase.
- The FDA has banned the generic version of original OxyContin.
- Experts believe that increased painkiller prescription rates may be behind the rising numbers of prescription painkiller addictions and overdoses as there is a parallel between increased prescription rates and overdoses and deaths over the last decade.
Painkiller Issues Particular to Women
It is important to understand that women are more susceptible to chronic pain and are therefore prescribed higher doses of painkillers over longer periods of time compared to men. Women have also shown higher rates of addiction to prescription painkillers and are more likely to go from doctor to doctor seeking pain medication.
Women are more susceptible to drug overdoses from medication prescribed for mental health issues such as anti-depressants, anti-anxiety, and sleep-aids which could be due to women being more likely to seek help for mental health issues than men.
Prescription drugs taken by pregnant women can put their fetus at risk of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). NAS is a set of symptoms that appear when a newborn has been exposed to addictive illegal or prescription drugs, similar to fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), which happens when a mother abuses alcohol while pregnant. NAS symptoms vary depending on the type of drug the mother used but can include mottling (blotchy skin coloring), diarrhea, excessive or high-pitched crying, excessive sucking, fever, vomiting, seizures, and more. Symptoms typically appear one to ten days after birth.
If you or a loved one were injured in an accident, you have enough to deal with. Let an experienced accident attorney fight for the full compensation that you deserve. It is not uncommon to receive a settlement from the insurance company that is five to ten times bigger with the help of a lawyer. Call the caring accident attorneys at Tario & Associates, P.S. today for a FREE consultation! You will pay nothing up front and no attorney fees at all unless we recover damages for you!
Read MorePrescription Drug Overdose Statistics
In 2011, prescription drug overdose became the leading cause of injury death in the United States after growing steadily over the last twenty-five years. Every day, 113 Americans die of drug overdose and another 6,748 people are treated in the emergency room for the misuse or abuse of prescription drugs.
In 2012, 259 million prescriptions for painkillers were written; that is enough for every adult to have a bottle of pills. In the United States alone, prescription opioid abuse costs about $55 billion per year. The breakdown in costs: 46 percent is attributable to workplace expenses such as lost productivity, 45 percent is due to healthcare costs such as abuse treatment, and nine percent is from criminal justice costs.
Prescription Drugs, Overdose, and Drug Abuse Defined
Drug: A drug is a chemical compound used for the diagnosis or treatment of disease or injury, for the relief of pain, or for the feeling it causes. A drug is either classified as a pharmaceutical (including both prescription and over-the-counter products) or illicit/illegal.
Overdose: An overdose occurs when too much of a drug is eaten, inhaled, injected, or absorbed through the skin. Overdoses are either intentional or unintentional. If the person taking or giving a substance did not mean to cause harm, then it is unintentional.
Drug Abuse or Misuse: The use of illicit or prescription or over-the-counter drugs in a manner other than as directed by a medical professional.
Prescription Drug Overdose Statistics
- For people aged 25 to 64 years old, drug overdose was responsible for more deaths than motor vehicle traffic crashes. In 2011 alone there were 41,340 drug overdose deaths in the United States.
- Drug overdose death rates have been rising steadily since 1992. There was a 118 percent increase in overdose deaths from 1999 to 2011.
- In 2011, 80 percent (33,071) of drug overdoses were unintentional, 12.8 percent (5,298) were of suicidal intent, 0.2 percent (80) were homicides, and 7 percent (2,891) were of undetermined intent.
- In 2011, there were over 2.5 million visits to the emergency department related to drug misuse and abuse. More than 1.4 million of these visits were related to pharmaceuticals.
- Between 2004 and 2005, almost 71,000 children (18 or younger) were taken to the emergency room each year due to accidental medication overdose. (These numbers exclude visits for self-harm, abuse, and recreational drug use).
- Forty percent of poisonings among children under age six involve pharmaceutical drugs. Almost 90 percent of all poisoning deaths are caused by ingesting drugs.
Most Common Drugs Involved in Drug Overdoses
In 2011, fifty-five percent (22,810) of drug overdoses were related to pharmaceuticals. Of these, 74 percent (16,917) involved opioid analgesics (also known as opioid pain relievers or prescription painkillers), and 30 percent (6,872) involved benzodiazepines. Note that some deaths include more than one type of drug.
About 1.4 million visits to the emergency room involved the non-medical use of pharmaceuticals. Among these visits, 501,207 overdoses involved the misuse of anti-anxiety and insomnia medications, and 420,040 visits were related to opioid analgesics.
Benzodiazepines are often found among people treated in the emergency department for misusing or abusing drugs. People who died of drug overdoses commonly had a combination of benzodiazepines and opioid analgesics in their bodies.
If you or a loved one were injured in an accident, you have enough to deal with. Let an experienced accident attorney fight for the full compensation that you deserve. It is not uncommon to receive a settlement from the insurance company that is five to ten times bigger with the help of a lawyer. Call the caring accident attorneys at Tario & Associates, P.S. today for a FREE consultation! You will pay nothing up front and no attorney fees at all unless we recover damages for you!
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