Study: Injuries, Deaths Tied to Consumer Drugs Rise Sharply

'Adverse events' more than doubled between 1998 and 2005
By Amanda Gardner
HealthDay Reporter

MONDAY, Sept. 10 (HealthDay News) -- The number of serious adverse drug events more than doubled between 1998 and 2005 in the United States, as did the number of related deaths, a new study found.

"This is the first study to ask the question, 'Are we gaining ground or losing ground in drug safety and improving patient safety in prescription drugs?' And I think, inescapably, the conclusion is that we're losing ground," said study lead author Thomas Moore, of the Institute for Safe Medication Practices, in Huntingdon Valley, Pa.

"This is a subject the public or health professionals just don't like to think about," Moore added. "Doctors don't like to think that what they're doing could be hurting patients. The pharmaceutical industry wants the public focused on benefits, and many people just want to believe this drug is going to help them. We need to focus on this problem. We can manage the risks of prescription drugs if we start to pay attention."

See: Study: Deaths tied to consumer drugs rise sharply