Child Deaths Up 80 Percent Due to Overdose

According to latest official figures, the number of accident victims who kill children and adolescents are much less than in the past. The death rate for teens age 19 and younger decreased by approximately 30 percent of the years 2000-2009. The number of deaths also fell, from approximately 12,400 to around 9100.

"We've made progress, and because we managed to make progress, our children are safer than ever," said Ileana Arias of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as quoted by the Associated Press on Tuesday (17/4).

However, accidents are not accidental memubunuh remains the leading cause of death for children aged 1-19 years. On average, one child dies every hour due to fires, falls from heights and other accidents.
A total of 41 percent drop in traffic accident victims appeared to have a major impact on the reduction in the number of child deaths due to accidents. CDC does not analyze what caused the decline, but officials believe this decline is aided by government measures that require driver's license and use of child safety, such as booster seats.

The number of child deaths from drowning, fires, and falls from heights also decreased dramatically. Meanwhile, the CDC actually concerned with the increasing number of deaths from overdose of prescription drugs. This factor is generally applicable in adults and older teens.

According to recent reports, accidental overdose in children and adolescents increased by around 80 percent, which is as many as 824 people in 2009. Approximately half of this most recent overdose deaths recorded adolescents aged 15-19 years.

The number of casualties due to suffocation also increased, ie as many as 1160 deaths in 2009. About 1,000 of them were still infants aged 1 year and younger. This age group has increased 54 percent. The CDC report was based on death certificate information for youth ages 19 and younger from 2000-2009.

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