Deaths from Prescription Painkiller Overdoses Rise Sharply Among Women, New Vital Signs Study Reports
Prescription drug overdose deaths have skyrocketed in women. Our mothers, wives, sisters and daughters are dying from these overdoses at rates never seen before.
Prescription drug overdose deaths have skyrocketed in women. Our mothers, wives, sisters and daughters are dying from these overdoses at rates never seen before.
Consider these numbers: Prescription painkiller overdose deaths increased five fold among women between 1999 and 2010. While men are more likely to die of a prescription painkiller overdose, since 1999 the percentage increase in deaths was greater among women (400 percent in women compared to 265 percent in men). Prescription painkiller overdoses killed nearly 48,000 women between 1999 and 2010. About 42 women die every day from a drug overdose.
Previous research has shown that women are more likely to have chronic pain, be prescribed prescription painkillers, be given higher doses, and use them for longer time periods than men. To learn steps that women can take to help stay safe from prescription painkiller overdoses, visit: http://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/PrescriptionPainkillerOverdoses/index.html
Vital Signs: Prescription Painkiller Overdoses are a Growing Epidemic, Especially Among Women
Overdose deaths have increased steadily over the past decade. In 2010, a total of 15,323 deaths among women were attributed to drug overdose, a rate of 9.8 per 100,000 population. While men are more likely to die of a prescription painkiller overdose, since 1999 the percentage increase in deaths was greater among women (400% in women compared to 265% in men). More than 6,600 women, or 18 women every day, died from a prescription painkiller overdose in 2010.
Read the Vital Signs to learn more about this issue and what can be done to help keep women safe from prescription painkiller overdoses.
- MMWR: Overdoses of Prescription Opioid Pain Relievers and Other Drugs Among Women – United States, 1999-2010
- Fact Sheet: Prescription Painkiller Overdoses - A growing epidemic, especially among women
Listen to Dr. Frieden's briefing on this data:
