Older adults comprise more than half of ED visits for drug reactions

Adults aged 50 and older comprise 51.5% of emergency department visits related to adverse reactions to medications, according to a new study by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. About 8 in 10 of these visits involve reactions to just one medication. Cases include a broad range of medications, led by central nervous system drugs such as pain relievers (24%).

One-third of older adults treated for adverse drug reactions in the ED are admitted to the hospital. The findings are based on data from SAMHSA's 2008 Drug Abuse Warning Network, which monitors drug-related hospital ED visits.