Drug Misuse

As displayed in a 2007 research sample, 44 percent of the people who have to go to the emergency room have problems from drug misuse and poisoning. The costs of care for these patients were up to $14 billion. Not only is the estimated cost outrageous,but that it is one of the main reasons that explain the crowding of emergency rooms. Roni Caryn Rabin quotes in The New York Times

Children younger than 6 had a higher rate of emergency visits for accidental drug poisoning than any other age group, but most of the visits were precautionary, said the study’s lead author, Dr. Gary Smith

 This is absolutely stunning because most of the incidents are originating in the rural areas of the nation. This just goes to show that many people are very under-educated and uninformed by their regional physicians about what they're taking and the possible side effects. While this does not concern those who take illegal drugs because those who do probably don't care about the consequences, the sheer amount of injuries is surprising how many of us don't know how to read or take directions.