December 18, 2010

Highlights of the 2009 Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) Findings on Drug-Related Emergency Department Visits

A report by the Center for Health Statistics showed emergency room visits due to prescription drug misuse increased by 98% in five years, from 627,000 in 2004 to 1.2 million in 2009. Emergency room visits due to illegal drugs remained stable about slightly below one million per year between 2004 and 2009. Visits related to prescription drug misuse represented 27% of the 4.6 million drug-related emergency department visits in 2009. Visits related to illegal drugs represented 21% of drug- related emergency department visits in 2009.