America's Silent Epidemic Worsens: Adverse Drug Events Now the Third Leading Cause of Death

American Society of Pharmacovigilance Calls for National Action, Rebrands Campaign to 'Third Cause'

HOUSTON, March 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- In 2021, the American Society of Pharmacovigilance (ASP) launched the Fourth Cause Campaign to raise awareness that adverse drug events (ADEs) were the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. Today, new data confirm a troubling and unacceptable reality—ADEs have now surged to become the third leading cause of death. An internal analysis conducted by ASP projects that adverse drug events now account for over 250,000 deaths annually, surpassing stroke and respiratory disease, making it the third leading cause of death in the United States.

This alarming statistic stems from several factors:

• Underreporting of Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs): Research indicates that more than 94% of ADRs are not reported by healthcare professionals, delaying the detection of safety signals and hindering accurate assessment of medication risks.
• Diagnostic Errors: Misdiagnosis or underdiagnosis accounts for an estimated 40,000 to 80,000 hospital deaths per year, contributing significantly to the overall mortality associated with medical errors. 
• Medication Errors: Errors in prescribing, dispensing, or administering medications lead to adverse outcomes, further elevating the risk of death.

In response to this worsening crisis, ASP is rebranding the initiative as the "Third Cause Campaign" to reflect the urgent need to stop preventable medication harm before it claims even more lives.

"We are no longer fighting to stop the fourth leading cause of death—this crisis has escalated to the third." – Benjamin Brown, ASP Executive Director

"We cannot afford to stand by while medication-related harm continues to grow. It's time for decisive action." – Sara Rogers, ASP President

The Third Cause Campaign's National Action Plan
To combat this escalating crisis, ASP is leading a national action plan that includes:

• A National Medication Safety Task Force – Uniting healthcare leaders, policymakers, and patient safety advocates to push for stronger regulations, improved prescribing practices, and accountability.
• Expanded Pharmacovigilance & Medication Safety Training – Launching a national initiative to integrate ADE prevention strategies into medical, pharmacy, and nursing education to ensure frontline healthcare professionals are equipped to recognize and mitigate risks.
• Advancing Pharmacogenomics & Precision Medicine – Promoting policies that increase access to genetic testing and clinical decision support tools, reducing preventable ADEs by tailoring medications to individual patients.
• Patient Empowerment Through the #ThirdCause Campaign – Mobilizing the public with tools to advocate for medication safety, report ADEs, and demand safer prescribing practices.

"Adverse drug events are a leading cause of death in this country," said Congressman Eric Swalwell, co-founder of the Personalized Medicine Caucus. "By factoring genetic testing results into medical prescription decisions, we can have the knowledge to better treat a range of conditions while reducing adverse drug events. PGx will help medical professionals and patients be well informed to decide effective treatments for each clinical case."

ASP urges healthcare professionals, policymakers, and the public to support stronger ADE prevention measures, increase funding for research, and prioritize patient safety in healthcare reform.

Lives are at stake. The time for action is now.

For more information, to join the Third Cause Campaign, or to support this initiative, visit thirdcause.org.

About the American Society of Pharmacovigilance
The American Society of Pharmacovigilance (ASP) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to reducing adverse drug events (ADEs), a leading cause of suffering and mortality in the U.S. Through collaboration and innovation, ASP aims to enhance patient safety and healthcare quality by mitigating the risks associated with ADEs. Our members are at the forefront of research, education, and advocacy, striving to create a more responsive and preventative healthcare system. For more information on how to join or support our mission, visit  www.stopadr.org.

Media Contact
Sara Rogers
President
American Society of Pharmacovigilance
[email protected]
c: 469-939-8475

SOURCE American Society of Pharmacovigilance