Occurrence and Consequences
Hospitalizations
- 10,062 individuals were discharged from Oregon hospitals for poisoning from 1999-2002.
- Poisoning, which includes unintentional and intentional overdoses, is the 2nd leading cause of injury-related hospitalizations in Oregon.
- More people are hospitalized for poisoning than for motor vehicle traffic crashes.
- 63% of the poisoning hospitalizations are suicide attempts.
- Inpatient costs for treatment of poisoning injuries from 1999-2002 was $63,715,301.60.
Deaths
- From 1999-2002, 1,135 Oregonians died as a result of poisoning.
- Poisoning is the 3rd leading cause of injury deaths in Oregon.
- 47% of the poisoning deaths were unintentional.
- Oregon's poisoning death rate increased 27% from 1999 to 2002.
- Nationally, Oregon ranked 13th for suicide poisonings in 2001.
Groups At Risk
- Children under 5 years of age and the elderly (aged 75+) are at greatest risk for unintentional poisoning.
- 84% of those discharged after treatment of a suicidal poisoning were aged 15 - 49 years.
- Females are 2 times more likely than males to be admitted for a suicidal poisoning.
- Males were more likely to die from poisoning than females.
Source: Oregon Vital Statistics 1999-2002, Oregon Hospital Discharge Index 1999-2002
