Unintentional poisoning in North Carolina: an emerging public health problem

Abstract

Unintentional poisoning is a fast-growing public health problem that once evoked an image of a street denizen injecting heroin or snorting cocaine. Today's victim is white, male, and middle-aged--and the drugs are prescribed. In North Carolina, unintentional poisoning is the second-leading cause of death due to unintentional injury, and injuries due to any cause are the leading cause of potential years of life lost. Comprehensive prevention measures are needed now to stem this burgeoning problem.