The Three Leading Causes of Injury Mortality in the United States, 1999-2005

This National Center for Health Statistics report shows that in 2004 and 2005, accidental poisoning -- mostly drug overdose -- was the second-leading cause of injury death in the U.S.

From the Conclusion of the report:

"For at least the 40 years prior to 2004, the two leading causes of injury death were MVT [motor vehicle traffic] deaths and firearms. Beginning in 2004, poisoning deaths outnumbered firearm deaths and have increased at a greater pace than firearm deaths since then. Unintentional drug poisonings are the largest component of poisoning deaths; they are primarily related to drug overdose and their rates of increase have outpaced those of all poisonings..."

For more information, see:

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/pubs/pubd/hestats/injury99-05/injury99-05.htm

Publication Year: 2008

Publisher

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
1600 Clifton Road
Atlanta, ga 30333
Phone: (404) 498-1515 or (800) 311-3435
Website: http://www.cdc.gov/