Statistics

Safest Drug was founded in response to the glaring statistics associated with medication use and medication-related negative health outcomes in the United States, most of which are considered preventable. Below is a sample of those statistics.

Overall Numbers

Medication Use in Vulnerable Groups

  • In one year, an estimated 75,000 children (18 years old or younger) have been seen at emergency departments for unintentional “medication poisonings”.
  • Older adults, 65 years of age and older, are 3 times more likely than younger patients to be seen at emergency departments for an adverse drug reaction and 7 times more likely to be hospitalized.
  • Veterans on 5 or more psychotropic drugs faced a nearly “four-fold” increase in the rate of drug/alcohol overdoses and their rates of suicidal behaviors, per the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
  • Black patients suffering from mental illness, such as bipolar disorder, are more likely to be on antipsychotic medication, even in light of the evidence which associates those medications with long-term negative effects and issues with effectiveness.
  • Nearly 1 in 12 children taking more than one medication may face the risk of adverse drug reactions due to potential drug-to-drug interactions.
  • Within Asian population segments, researchers have identified certain groups may be at increased risk of adverse drug reactions based on their genetic makeup.

Cost of Medication Harm

  • The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) estimates over 1 million people are seen in a hospital emergency room (ER) due to an adverse drug reaction with the average cost of an ER visit costing over $1,300.
  • In 2016, over $400 billion was spent buying prescription drugs but over $500 billion was spent on treating adverse drug events.
  • Individuals facing significant, long-term and irreversible drug-induced health issues lose wages and may seek disability assistance. They may also require more healthcare, including counseling services to deal with the trauma of their condition and poorer health.