Increase in Fatal Poisonings Involving Opioid Analgesics in the United States, 1999–2006

Poisoning is the second leading cause of injury death overall, and the leading cause of injury death for people aged 35–54 years, surpassing both firearm- related and motor vehicle-related deaths in this age group (1,2). During the Healthy People 2010 midcourse review, reduction of poisoning mortality was one of the injury objectives identified as moving away from its target. One of the challenges discussed during the review is a lack of recognition of the extent of the problem.
Drug poisonings are the largest portion of the poisoning burden and opioid analgesic-related deaths (see “Definitions” section) are among the fastest increasing drug poisoning deaths (3,4). This report highlights trends in fatal opioid analgesic-related poisonings from the years 1999–2006.