Kids are victims of opioid crisis too
by Claudia Boyd-Barrett posted in Parenting
Over the past decade, the number of kids admitted to hospital for opioid overdoses has almost doubled, new research shows.
The findings, published in the journal Pediatrics, provide evidence that children as well as adults are falling victim to America's opioid epidemic. While teenagers may be taking these drugs on purpose, young children are likely ingesting their parents' prescription and non-prescription opioids by mistake, the study authors said.
Researchers analyzed opioid-related admissions at 31 children's hospitals between 2004 and 2015. They found that the number of admissions jumped from almost 800 between 2004 and 2007, to more than 1,500 children between 2012 and 2015.
Almost half of the children ended up in intensive care, which means their condition was considered very severe. While teens accounted for about 60 percent of cases, children ages 1 through 5 made up one third of hospital admissions for opioid overdose, the study found.
About 20 percent of the kids under age 6 ingested methadone, which is a drug used to help people quit other opioids, and also as a painkiller.
Opioid overdose can lead to problems breathing and even death. Thankfully, less than 3 percent of the children in the study died from an overdose, but many required life-saving treatment such as a ventilator or drugs to prevent shock.
Speaking to CNN, lead author Dr. Jason Kane advised parents to take preventative action to keep opioids out of ...
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