Prescription drug overdoses have replaced car accidents as the leading cause of injury-related death

Prescription drug overdoses have replaced car accidents as the leading cause of injury-related death for 35- 54-year-olds in Washington, according to a report from the state Department of Health.

The rate of death from prescription overdoses increased 90 percent between 2003 and 2008, the report said. In 2008, the last year for which numbers are available, 505 people in the state died from prescription drug overdoses and 646 people were hospitalized.

Stevens, Clallam, Spokane, Grant and Snohomish counties led the way in 2008 death rates from prescription medications. In Stevens County, the rate was 18.6 per 100,000 population. King County's rate was 6.8 per 100,000.

"Too many people treat these powerful drugs as casual medications," state health officer Dr. Maxine Hayes said in a news release. "This stuff isn't aspirin, and it should be handled with care."