Teenage prescription drug deaths skyrocketing, CDC warns

The rate of fatal poisonings among 15- to 19-year-olds surged 91 percent between 2000 and 2009, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed Monday, a result of the nation's epidemic of prescription drug abuse.

The report is likely to rekindle congressional efforts to fight teenage abuse of painkillers and other medications, one of the few arrays of bipartisan cooperation on health policy in this election year.

The startling statistic is contained in an otherwise positive report on fatal childhood injuries, which found an almost 30 percent decrease in accidental childhood deaths over a decade. Still, more than 9,000 children lost their lives due to accidents in 2009, with automobile crashes still the leading cause of death despite a 41 percent drop.

In conjunction with the report's release, the CDC and more than 60 partner organizations released a National Action Plan to raise awareness about childhood injury risks, highlight prevention solutions and mobilize action in a national, coordinated effort.

Several bills to tackle prescription drug abuse have been introduced this session, but they haven't gotten anywhere. These include proposals to fund multi-state drug monitoring programs, educate prescribers of painkillers and restrict the use of opiods such as oxycodone. 

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