FDA Warns About Overdoses

As a nation of pill poppers, we're hurting ourselves and our kids way too often by taking medicines the wrong way, the Food and Drug Administration says.

So now FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg is asking for solutions from everyone in the health industry, from drugmakers to hospitals and pharmacies, to prevent injuries and deaths from the misuse or abuse of prescription and over-the-counter medicines.

The effort is another example of the FDA, under Hamburg's watch, stepping out of its traditional role to be more of a consumer advocate. But there's a cost to the health care system as well.

There are at least 1.5 million preventable drug injuries or deaths each year, according to the Institute of Medicine. The cost to the health care system: $4 billion, the FDA says.

These cases of misuse include dosage mistakes in addition to substance abuse and suicide attempts. They also include kids ingesting drugs while their parents aren't watching.

One example of a potential product change: The FDA is seeking input from the drug industry on how dispensing liquids such as cough medicines can be changed so parents give their kids the proper dose.