SAVE MONEY ON TRAVEL DEALS

Sociologists at the University of California, San Diego, examined nearly 50 million U.S. death certificates from 1983 to 2004, focusing on a subset of 200,000 deaths from medication errors.

The study, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, found a 3,196 percent increase in fatal domestic medication errors involving alcohol and/or street drugs.

"The decades-long shift in the location of medication consumption from clinical to domestic settings is linked to a dramatic increase in fatal medication errors", principal author David P. Phillips said in a statement.

"Increasingly, people take their medications at home, away from hospitals and clinics. But most studies of fatal medication errors have focused on those clinical settings."

The study found non-domestic fatal errors not involving alcohol or street drugs showed the smallest increase, 5 percent, while domestic medication fatalities not involving alcohol or street drugs increased by 564 percent and non-domestic medication fatalities involving alcohol and/or street drugs increased by 555 percent.

 BREAKING STORIES

Palin pulls out of California fundraisers

Telsa Motors to build plant in California

California teacher fatally gored

California city eyeing Styrofoam ban

California aquarium releases hungry shark

Fire warnings posted in No. California

Same-Sex Marriage Ban is Losing, State Pollsters Say

California declares victory over Medflies

So. Calif. facing severe West Nile threat

California insurance bill nears completion

California nuke plant gets 3rd inspection

Carrier's top officers relieved of duties

Judge rules in favor of giant Calif. cross

Scientists test computer energy efficiency

More fatal domestic medication errors

'King' star Judge among animation honorees

Producer: Character to die in 'Chronicles'

Young firefighter killed in Calif.

Ritchie denies rumors of marriage troubles

'Torchwood' to return for third season