Prescription Drug Diversion and Accidental Drug Overdose

Accidental drug overdoses continue to be a leading cause of accidental death in the United States, exceeding motor vehicle accidents as the leading cause of accidental death in more than one dozen States. Prescription opioid pain medications contribute the most to the recent increases. There has been a concomitant increase in the availability of these important medications. Recent survey instruments indicate that pain relievers are used for non medical use by at least 2% of the U.S. population, and each year more individuals initiate prescription drug abuse than any other illicit substance. In addition, more individuals report to hospital emergency departments as a result of prescription drug abuse than illicit substances. Friends and relatives and individual physicians have been identified as the major source of these potent narcotics. Many recent studies have identified factors that increase the risk of overdose and overdose death with these medications. Applying this research, there are several Federal initiatives underway to reduce prescription drug diversion. In addition, other jurisdictions have implemented measures to reduce overdose deaths, with successful outcomes. The initiatives involve prescriber, dispenser, consumer education, and community outreach, together with expanded access to substance abuse treatment approaches.