It looks like Americans have finally relinquished our beloved cars as the number one accidental cause of death in the United States. The new leader:

Propelled by an increase in prescription narcotic overdoses, drug deaths now outnumber traffic fatalities in the United States, a Times analysis of government data has found. Drugs exceeded motor vehicle accidents as a cause of death in 2009, killing at least 37,485 people nationwide, according to preliminary data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Data like this will fuel the drug war hysteria, perhaps result in even more Draconian prison sentences and obstacles for people suffering severe pain or other easily treatable maladies. And none of it will do a damn bit of good either, just as it hasn’t in the past. Short of shutting down international commerce, managing web access like China, and violating every amendment in the Bill of Rights, there’s nothing federal or local governments can do about this. Nor should they try. Some things come with risk. Drugs can kill you just like cars or fatty food. We accepted that risk with cars for decades, now that drugs have taken the lead expect an episode of collective amnesia followed by senseless over reaction.