In the news: Drug overdoses result in hefty annual charges in the ED

A study in The American Journal of Emergency Medicine reveals that drug overdoses result in $1.4 billion in emergency department charges annually, 41.1% of which is paid by Medicare and Medicaid. Antidepressants and analgesics account for nearly 44% of drug-related visits to the ED. Children younger than 5 years old had the highest rate for unintentional poisoning, and hospitals in rural areas experienced more visits to the ED for drug poisoning than other areas.