Prescription Opioid Exposures Among Children and Adolescents in the United States: 2000-2015

Prescription opioid exposure is not always at the forefront of substance use prevention efforts. The decade and a half period between 2000 to 2015 revealed that additional substance misuse and disorder prevention efforts are needed for individuals who are less than 20 years old. Serious medical outcomes and health care facility admissions were noted for teenagers in this study. A significant increase in buprenophrine exposures was also documented in children between 0 and 5 years of age, with 9 out of 10 incidents involving children in this age group. Prescription medication disposal is simple, easy to implement solution, which has the potential to make a significant positive impact on this age group.