Prescription Opioid Exposures Among Children and Adolescents in the United States: 2000-2015
Summary/Excerpts
Prescription opioid-related HCF admissions and serious medical outcomes were higher among teenagers. Contrary to trends for other prescription opioids, exposures to buprenorphine have increased in recent years; children aged 0 to 5 years accounted for almost 90% of buprenorphine exposures. These findings indicate that additional prevention efforts are needed.
Key Statistics
The rate of prescription opioid-related suspected suicides among teenagers increased by 52.7% during [2000 through 2015]
Children aged 0 to 5 years accounted for almost 90% of buprenorphine exposures.
Citation
Allen J, Casavant M, Spiller H, Chounthirath T, Hodges N, Smith G. Prescription opioid exposures among children and adolescents in the US: 2000-2015. Pediatrics. 2017;139(4):e20163382.