Opioids most common cause of fatal poisonings in young children

Medscape (10/11, Haelle, Subscription Publication) reports, “Opioids are the most common cause of fatal poisonings in young children, and their contribution to children’s deaths has been increasing, according to research” that “found that the proportion of deaths in U.S. children linked to opioids has doubled since the mid-2000s.” The study identified “731 child poisoning deaths” between 2005 and 2018 and found that “most of the deaths (61%) occurred in the child’s home, and in even more cases (71%) the child was being supervised when the poisoning occurred, most often by a parent (58.5%).” The findings were presented at the 2022 AAP National Conference & Exhibition.

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