A new federal study shows that more emergency-room (ER) visits are caused by misuse of pharmaceuticals -- including over-the-counter and prescription drugs -- than by cocaine, marijuana, or other illicit drugs, USA Today reported May 10.

Pharmaceuticals accounted for 495,732 of 1.3 million drug-related ER visits in 2004, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Cocaine use was responsible for 383,350 visits, while marijuana use was involved in 215,665 trips to the emergency room.

"We need to see a real focus getting the message out that just because something is prescribed or over-the counter doesn't mean it's not harmful," said SAMHSA administrator Charles Curie. "We want to recognize that medications prescribed by a doctor and taken exactly how the doctor prescribes can work wonders. But if it's not prescribed for you, if it's not taken the way it's intended, it's a recipe for disaster."

"These drugs have become very, very popular with people who abuse substances," noted Joseph Troncale, medical director for Caron Treatment Centers, who said 30 percent of Caron's patients misuse prescription drugs. "OxyContin, Percocet -- all these medicines are just being handed out like candy. I think there's too much availability," he said.