Make a difference. CDC. June 16-20, 2008.The Overdose Epidemic: Accidental poisoning deaths have more than tripled in the United States over the past 20 years, making poisoning the nation’s second-leading cause of unintentional deaths, after motor-vehicle crashes. This trend is driven primarily by adults (ages 20-64) of both sexes and seems to be mainly attributable to the abuse of drugs, particularly prescription painkillers. Learn more about the overdose epidemic and poison prevention.[ See ]