WASHINGTON, Sept. 16 (UPI) -- Poisoning is the most common form of death by injury in the United States, and 90 percent of all poisoning deaths are caused by drug overdoses -- via both prescription and illicit drugs.
In 2011, there were 36,280 unintentional poisoning deaths, while 33,783 people died in car accidents. For intentional drug overdoses the numbers are even more dramatic, with 41,340 deaths in 2011.