Guns Safer Than Prescription Drugs: DEA Releases Startling Statistics Regarding Death By Prescription Drugs

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) released startling new data that shows exactly how prevalent prescription drug overdoses are in the United States. The shocking statistics show that Americans are twice as likely to die from a prescription drug overdose than a homicide using a gun, and you are 36 times more likely to die from a prescription drug overdose than from an accident involving a firearm. Despite the horrifying statistics, politicians speak more on gun-related deaths than they do a prescription drug epidemic.

The DEA released their 2015 Drug Threat Assessment, which detailed their most pressing concerns for the year. The administration noted that heroine and pain killer abuse were top priorities. The press release spells out plainly that that drug overdose deaths are the leading cause of injury death in the United States, placing them well ahead of deaths from motor vehicle accidents and firearms. In fact, even if you are solely looking at prescription drug deaths, the numbers are greater than homicides with firearms, accidental deaths by firearms, and drunk driving deaths.

Mises Wire compiled data from the DEA along with information provided by the Centers for Disease Control to compare prescription drug deaths among Americans and other causes of death in the United States. What the statistics uncovered is that Americans are far more likely to die from a drug overdose than any other type of accidental death. In fact, Americans were found to be four times more likely to die from a drug overdose than from a homicide using a gun. If you only look at prescription drug deaths, the numbers are still startling with Americans twice as likely to die from a prescription drug overdose than a homicide using a gun.

DEA Releases New Drug Overdose Death Figures: Guns Safer than Prescription Drugs: https://t.co/dGA6kR95CY | #2A

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Many parents are concerned about the accidental shooting death of their child as the media seems to report almost daily on a fatal accident involving a gun. However, it seems that prescription drugs should be an even bigger concern for parents as Americans are 36 times more likely to die from a prescription drug overdose than from an accident involving a firearm. Even more startling is the fact that an American would be almost 69.5 times more likely to die from a drug overdose involving all forms of drugs than an accident involving a firearm.

Though overall drug deaths are still higher than prescription drug deaths, the DEA notes that abuse of prescription drugs has outpaced that of cocaine and heroin combined.

“Since 2002, prescription drug deaths have outpaced those of cocaine and heroin combined. Abuse of controlled prescription drugs is higher than that of cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, MDMA, and PCP combined.”

With the increasing number of prescription drugs in homes with children, the CDC has warned parents to keep all medications out of reach of small children. The CDC notes that childproof packaging isn’t enough to keep your child safe and that extra precautions should be taken in the home. WebMD warned parents back in 2011 of the increased risk of accidental overdose in children by prescription drugs.

“Each year, one in every 150 2-year-olds is treated in an emergency room for an unintentional drug overdose, usually after finding and eating or drinking medications without adult supervision.”

Though drug-related deaths are increasing, it is noted that drug deaths don’t even come close to being in the top 10 causes of death for Americans. In fact, you are much more likely to die from suicide, heart disease or “influenza and pneumonia” than either gun deaths or drug overdoses. Check out the chart above that shows the 10 most common reasons for death in the United States. Homicides with firearms have also been included for comparison.

If Americans are much more likely to die from these common causes and prescription drug overdose than an accident with a firearm, why do you think that politicians are focusing so heavily on debating gun control laws instead of these pressing issues?

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