Prescription medications play a critical role in modern healthcare, helping millions of Americans manage chronic illness, control symptoms, and improve quality of life. However, a new national study from High Rise Financial reveals that these same medications are also responsible for a staggering number of injuries and medical emergencies, with approximately 1.5 million Americans seeking emergency treatment every year due to adverse drug events.
According to data from the Health Policy Institute, more than 131 million Americans, representing 66% of all adults, currently rely on prescription drugs. While these medications are essential for treating conditions ranging from heart disease and diabetes to neurological disorders and chronic pain, their widespread use has created a parallel patient safety challenge.
Adverse drug events (ADEs), which include harmful reactions caused by medication errors, improper dosing, drug interactions, or manufacturing defects, account for approximately 1.5 million emergency department visits annually. Of those cases, nearly 500,000 result in hospital admissions, highlighting the severity of medication-related harm.
“Prescription drugs are a cornerstone of modern healthcare, but they also carry significant risks when errors occur, or safety failures go undetected,” the report explains. “Medication-related injuries are not rare—they are a widespread and ongoing patient safety issue.”
One of the primary drivers of this risk is polypharmacy, or the use of multiple medications simultaneously. Nearly one in three U.S. adults now takes five or more prescription drugs, significantly increasing the likelihood of dangerous drug interactions, dosing errors, or cumulative toxicity.
Older adults face the greatest risk. Adults aged 65 and older account for approximately 600,000 emergency department visits related to adverse drug events each year. Age-related changes in metabolism, combined with higher rates of chronic illness, make older patients especially vulnerable to medication-related harm.
Certain classes of medications are disproportionately linked to emergency medical incidents. Anticoagulants, which prevent blood clots, are responsible for approximately 21% of ADE-related emergency visits. Insulin and diabetes medications account for 14%, while antibiotics contribute to 13% of emergency visits.
These medications require precise dosing and careful monitoring, and even small errors can result in serious consequences, including internal bleeding, hypoglycemia, allergic reactions, or organ damage.
Injuries associated with adverse drug events often affect multiple organ systems. Bleeding complications account for approximately 25% of ADE injuries, making them the most common type. Glucose-related complications, such as dangerously low blood sugar, represent 15% of cases, while allergic reactions account for 10%.
Other serious outcomes include cardiovascular complications, neurological symptoms, kidney damage, respiratory distress, and fall-related injuries. Many of these events require hospitalization and can result in long-term health consequences.
The study also highlights the role of medication errors in driving patient harm. Approximately 50% of adverse drug events are considered preventable, meaning they result from prescribing mistakes, dispensing errors, inadequate monitoring, or poor communication between healthcare providers.
Transitions of care, such as hospital discharge or transfers between facilities, are particularly vulnerable points. During these transitions, patients may receive conflicting instructions, duplicate prescriptions, or incorrect dosages, increasing the risk of preventable harm.
Manufacturing failures and drug recalls also contribute to patient risk. In 2025 alone, widely prescribed medications used to treat high blood pressure, diabetes, thyroid disorders, and neurological conditions were recalled due to contamination, improper potency, or labeling errors.
These recalls often involve medications taken by millions of Americans, raising concerns about quality control and pharmaceutical manufacturing oversight.
Despite these risks, prescription drug use continues to rise as Americans live longer and manage more chronic conditions. While medications remain essential for treating illness and improving health outcomes, the growing prevalence of medication-related harm highlights the need for stronger safety measures.
Healthcare providers, pharmacists, and patients all play a role in reducing risk. Regular medication reviews, improved communication between providers, and greater awareness of recall alerts can help prevent adverse drug events.
“Medication safety requires vigilance at every level,” the report concludes. “As prescription drug use continues to increase, improving oversight, education, and coordination will be critical to protecting patient health.”
