More and more Americans are ending up in the ER from overdoses. But what they're overdosing on may surprise you.
It's not the street drugs you might think about, or even household chemicals, but prescription drugs that come from people's medicine cabinets that are getting them into trouble.
According to a recent study, more Americans are landing in the hospital because of overdoses from prescription painkillers, sedatives and even tranquilizers
This study found between 1999 and 2006, hospital admissions due to poisonings by these medications increased 65%. That number is about twice the increase from overdosing on all other drugs or medicinal substances.
And according to the White House prescription drug overdose has now become this country's fastest growing drug issue. It's an even bigger problem than crack was in the 80s and heroin in the 70s. In 2007 alone, about 28 thousand died from drug overdoses and most of these were because of prescription drugs.
You can help fight this problem, and do a little spring cleaning while you're at it, this weekend. On Saturday, from 10 till 2, local public health departments, local law enforcement and the DEA are holding their second annual National Prescription Drug take-back day at various spots in southern Colorado. It's the perfect time to get rid of any medicines, expired or not, in your house that you aren't using. Getting them out of the house can get rid of the temptation they sometimes present and will give you a little more shelf room to boot.
You can go to KRDO.com, under links we mentioned, to find drop off sites near your house.
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