Question: 

What is the difference between a drug and a poison? How often do people overdose?

Answer:  
The line between drug and poison can be a very thin one.

 

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2010, medication overdose in the U.S. led to more deaths than car accidents in people ages 25 to 64. 

 

Drug: A medicine or other substance which has a physiological effect when ingested or otherwise introduced into the body.

 

Poison: Any substance (e.g., drugs, water & supplements) consumed in excess amount.
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Please send your questions to AskThePharmacist@cvty.com

Kim DuBrueler, B.A., PharmD., RPh, is a Clinical Pharmacist within Coventry's pharmacy benefit management program, First Script. She joined Coventry in early 2011, bringing with her experience in pharmaceutical manufacturing, as well as retail pharmacy. She is involved in keeping up on industry wide research and trends in the pharmacy sector, authoring pharmacy bulletins and client newsletters, white papers, presentations and educational webinars. Kim has a bachelor's degree in chemistry from Colgate University, a doctorate in pharmacy from Temple University, and is currently a member of the ACOEM Opioids Panel tasked with developing updated opioid utilization guidelines.

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