Americans More Likely to Die from Opioids Than Car Crashes

For the first time in history, a person in the U.S. is more likely to die from an accidental opioid overdose than in a motor vehicle accident, according to analysis from the National Safety Council.

The latest statistics show the odds of dying from an opioid overdose have risen to one in 90, surpassing the odds of dying in a motor vehicle accident, which are currently one in 103.

In 2018, employers were urged to take a more active role in opioid crisis prevention, after it was declared a public health emergency by President Trump.

The analysis was revealed by NSC on Injury Facts, the definitive resource for data pertaining to unintentional and preventable injuries, commonly referred to as ‘accidents’.

NSC manager of statistics Ken Kolosh said that while the U.S. had made significant strides in the overall longevity of its population, citizens were dying in accidents at rates that haven’t been seen in half a century.

“We cannot be complacent about 466 lives lost every day. This new analysis reinforces that we must consistently prioritise safety at work, at home and on the road to prevent these dire outcomes.”

NSC also reported the increase in preventable deaths in the workplace, with an increase of 5% from 2015 to 2016, following a smaller increase of 1% from 2014 to 2015.

In 2016, the industry sector experiencing the largest number of preventable fatal injuries was construction, followed by transportation and warehousing. The industry sector experiencing the highest fatality rates per 100,000 workers was agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, followed by transportation and warehousing.

In an effort to keep the public informed on the latest injury and fatality trends, NSC have added poisonings, older adult falls, deaths by transportation mode and fire-related fatalities and injuries to Injury Facts. The Council have also designated pages related to airplane crashes, railroad deaths and consumer products to demonstrate why the American people should be less concerned about sensationalised catastrophes and more concerned about preventable accidents.

According to NSC, the incidents that tend to spark nationwide outrage or anxiety lead to far fewer fatalities than everyday activities including taking medication, driving or even getting out of bed.

Avoidable injuries are currently the third leading cause of death, claiming the lives of 169,936 people in 2017, behind only heart disease and cancer. Of these three leading causes of death, avoidable injuries were the only category to see an increase in 2017. In 2004 a person’s odds of dying in a preventable accident were one in 30, whereas they now sit at one in 25. The increases in home and public deaths were largely driven by a 11% increase in poisoning deaths, including opioid overdoses.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that over 42,000 Americans had died from opioid-related overdoses in 2016. The National Business Group on Health (NBGH) president and CEO Brian Marcotte said the opioid crisis is a growing concern among large employers, with the misuse and abuse of opioids potentially affecting productivity, workplace costs, workers’ compensation claims, absenteeism and disability costs, as well as overall medical expenses.