It’s well-known that the opioid crisis has gripped our nation, yet many overlook the disturbing fact that children are increasingly affected by this epidemic. A recent study published in the journal Pediatrics highlights a shocking trend: the number of children aged 1 to 17 hospitalized for opioid overdoses has nearly doubled from 2004 to 2015. Yes, you read that correctly—doubled. Young children, including infants, are finding their way into pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) after accidentally ingesting opioids.
You might wonder how these little ones are getting access to such dangerous substances. They aren’t lurking in alleyways seeking drugs; rather, many are inadvertently consuming medications meant for adults. Dr. Emily Thompson, a co-author of the study, sheds light on this issue in her conversation with a news outlet, stating, “What stands out is that among the youngest children, particularly those under six, 20% of the cases involved methadone.” Methadone, commonly prescribed for opioid withdrawal symptoms and pain relief, raises questions about its availability to children.
While the study categorized children into three age groups—1 to 5, 6 to 11, and 12 to 17—it didn’t specify how many overdoses were accidental versus intentional. However, it’s reasonable to assume that older teens may deliberately misuse opioids for recreational purposes or self-harm, as they represented 60% of the overdoses in the study. Alarmingly, 4.4% of these cases involved heroin, rather than prescription medications.
The situation is especially dire for children under six, who comprised one-third of the overdose cases. Many of these hospital admissions were due to accidental ingestion of methadone or oxycodone, according to Dr. Thompson.
Historically, children have had access to adult medications, but the current crisis is exacerbated by the sheer volume of prescribed opioids flooding households. In 2016 alone, more than 42,000 lives were lost to opioid overdoses in the U.S., with prescription drugs accounting for 40% of those fatalities—a record high, according to the CDC.
As more individuals seek treatment for opioid addiction, the prescription of methadone is on the rise, contributing to the increased incidence of child overdoses, or “secondary victims,” Dr. Thompson explains. Among the 3,647 children treated in 31 hospitals for opioid overdoses, a staggering 43% required intensive care. This statistic emphasizes the severity of the situation; with only about 4,100 PICU beds available nationwide, we are at risk of overwhelming a crucial medical resource with preventable cases.
How Can We Minimize Children’s Exposure?
So, how can we minimize children’s exposure to these dangerous medications and avoid these hospitalizations? Education is paramount. Adults must be acutely aware of how hazardous their medications can be for children and take appropriate precautions to secure them. Dr. Thompson advises locking away all prescription drugs. Unfortunately, societal norms surrounding safety don’t always extend to medications; for instance, only 20% of adults use locks for their prescriptions, as highlighted in a 2017 survey.
Parents should also engage in conversations with their children about the dangers of prescription opioids. Showing them images of various pills can help them recognize what to avoid. If you take prescribed opioids, ensure they’re never left unattended on counters or floors.
Amid this bleak picture, there is a glimmer of hope: the mortality rate for children admitted to PICUs due to opioid overdoses has decreased from 2.8% between 2004 and 2007 to 1.3% from 2012 to 2015. This suggests that hospitals are improving their care for these vulnerable patients. The primary emergency treatment involves administering naloxone, which, while effective, has its own side effects and often requires additional support for blood pressure and respiration.
Knowing that my children could face life-threatening situations due to opioid overdose is a powerful motivator for me to keep even over-the-counter medications out of reach. I urge all adults who take opioids to take serious action to safeguard these potent drugs from children.
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Conclusion
In summary, we must take urgent steps to address the rising rates of opioid overdoses in children. Through heightened awareness, education, and responsible medication storage, we can protect our youngest and most vulnerable family members from this crisis.