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The leading cause of preventable deaths in the US has always been car crashes, but for the first time in history, it has now been surpassed by opioid overdoses.
This is according to a new report from the National Safety Council.
In the United States over the past 15 years, the odds of dying from a preventable or an unintentional injury has been rising. In 2017, there were 169,936 preventable deaths in America.
Motor vehicle accidents were the leading cause of preventable deaths for decades. But according to a new report, for the first time in history, that has changed. Opioids are now considered the leading cause of preventable deaths.
Experts say the number of deaths is likely higher because many opioid deaths go underreported.
Americans now have a 1 and 96 chance of dying from an opioid overdose.
The odds of dying in a motor vehicle crash are 1 in 103.
Another surprising statistic is, that despite seatbelt laws being enacted in many states, half of the people who died in vehicle crashes were not wearing seatbelts.
Additionally, the number of pedestrian versus motor vehicle deaths has increased to a 25-year high, with a rise in fatalities occurring in urban areas at the rate of an average of 13 people per day.
Another preventable type of death that rose in the US last year was falls. The odds of dying from a fall are 1 and 119. Most falls occur among older adults, and experts say the best way to prevent falls is exercise.
In terms of nonpreventable and preventable deaths combined, the leading cause of death in the US is heart disease, with a 1 and 6 chance.
The second leading cause of death is cancer, with a one and 7 chance.
While many people have fears of airplane travel, storms or other mishaps, some of the odds of dying in these situations are significantly high.
Heroin, an opioid, tops the list as the world’s most addictive drug. Secondly, it’s one of the easiest drugs to accidentally overdose on. The dosage that can cause death is only five times greater than the dose necessary to achieve a high.
Behind heroin, the next four addictive substances are:
Cocaine: A stimulant that is similar to others such as methamphetamine. About 21% of people who try cocaine become dependent.
Nicotine: The main active ingredient in tobacco. Over two-thirds of Americans who try smoking become dependent on it at some point during their lifetime.
Barbiturates: A central nervous system depressant, is highly addictive. Barbiturates can be lethal at higher doses by suppressing breathing.
Alcohol: It is estimated that 22% of people who have a drink will develop a dependence on alcohol.
