Car Accidents Spike With Opioid Use
The misuse and addiction of prescription drugs has been dubbed one of the largest public health crises to date, and is ongoing and rampant in America. Much talk is centered on fatal opioid overdoses; however, it was recently discovered that overdoses are not the only cause of fatality for users. Columbia University conducted a study that linked the increasing number of fatal car accidents to opioid usage.
Not surprisingly, research shows that 100 million people took some type of prescription drug in 2015. Oftentimes, narcotic medicine is prescribed to pain patients to correct a symptom, but it does not treat the underlying cause. By the time the underlying cause is identified, the pain turns from acute to chronic, requiring long-term drug use and ongoing care. Sadly, many of these patients unknowingly become addicts.
Opiate Addiction Starts Quickly
People can become addicted to narcotics after merely three days of use, which is why the prescription drug crisis is considered an epidemic. It is essential that pain patients seek medical attention immediately. Being treated quickly increases the likelihood of being cured without long-term opiate usage required. Unfortunately, doctors are overprescribing narcotics because knowledge is limited on alternative treatments.
Columbia University chose 37,000 people to study for their accident data, and found three percent of them tested positive for narcotics. When reviewed more closely, scientists discovered a five to seven percent uptick over a 10-year period, which was particularly concerning. Between 1995 and 2015, the number of male crash victims linked to opioid use increased from one to five percent. Similarly, the crash rate for women with narcotics in their system rose from one to seven percent over the same time frame.
Much like alcohol, prescription narcotics can slow a driver’s response time. They can induce drowsiness and impair both motor and thinking skills. Bottle warning labels often advise users against operating machinery while taking the medication. Doctors and pharmacists need to be diligent in reminding their patients that these drugs have significantly increased crash rates in recent years.
New Brunswick Car Accident Lawyers at the Law Offices of Harold J. Gerr Advocate for Car Accident Victims
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car crash, a lifetime of pain and suffering can ensue. At the Law Offices of Harold J. Gerr, our compassionate lawyers will advocate for you every step of the way. Our priority is to win you the financial compensation you deserve for your injuries as quickly as possible. We take cases involving all types of injuries.
Our offices are conveniently located in Highland Park, New Jersey, and we serve residents of Highland Park, Edison, Somerset, New Brunswick, Metuchen, East Brunswick, South River, Sayreville, South Plainfield, Fords, Iselin, Old Bridge, Middlesex, Bound Brook, Perth Amboy, and Colonia., and various communities throughout New Jersey. If you need help on the road to recovery, call to speak with an experienced New Brunswick car accident lawyer today at 732-537-8570 or toll free 1-877-249-4600. You can also submit an online inquiry to schedule a free consultation.
