If this trend continues until 2020, it could be a wake-up call for parents, as drug overdoses are on the rise during the epidemic.
Researchers at the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, U.S. Analyzed approximately 90 million emergency room visits for 24-year-olds between April 2016 and September 2019, as part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The analysis was broken down by age groups: children from birth to 10 years; 11 to 14 year olds; And adolescents and adults ages 15 to 24.
There was an increase in stimulant-associated overdoses in all three age groups, while the study measured a change in the average quarterly percentage over a three-and-a-half-year period. The authors note a parallel increase in stimulant use in the adult population.
There was a piece of good news: suspected heroin overdoses in children aged 15 to 24 during the same period.
“Although this approach continues and more research is needed to identify specific drugs that are increasingly driving, our results suggest that targeted interventions, even with young children, may be multilingual approaches, including from school, family and medical providers.” “The need for medical treatment is guaranteed to prevent overdoses,” wrote epidemiologist Douglas Rohl.
Differences by age groups
In children From birth to 10 years old, the study found that there were an average of 22.3 drug overdoses during visits to 10,000 emergency rooms. The rate for 11- to 14-year-olds nearly doubled from 43.2 overdoses per 10,000 visits, to nearly 15 times the rate of 85.2 drug overdoses per 10,000 visits for 15- to 24-year-olds.
“Despite the rarity of these suspected overdoses and the age and potentially unintentional nature of these patients, it is important to try to stem these growing trends,” Rohler and his colleagues wrote.
For children from birth to 10 years of age, the rate of drug overdoses involving all drugs increased by 2% on average for all drug-related overdoses. When broken down by type of drug, the rate of overdose involving ioopoids increased by an average of 1.5% per quarter, and by an average of 3.3% per quarter for stimulant involved overdoses.
For children ages 11 to 14, the rate of drug overdoses, including all medications, increased by an average of 2.3% in the quarter. When broken down by drug type, the average quarterly rate was 1.9% for quarter pioid-involved overdoses and 3 ..% for stimulant-involved overdoses.
Of all the drugs, the rate of drug overdose has actually dropped from an average of -0.4% per quarter to a group of 15- to 24-year-olds. When broken down by type of drug, opioid-associated overdoses decreased by an average of -0.6% per quarter, while heroin-related overdoses decreased by an average of -3.3% per quarter.
However, the rate of stimulation is involved for overdose The same age group grew an average of 2.3% per quarter over the same period.
Advice for parents
Keep prescription pain pills out of your home. Keep the pills you need to use safely, and discard them when you are finished with your pain management.
“While you may be tempted to have pain medications, if you need them, the safest way to take action is to dispose of all expired or unused medications as family and friends are the main source of prescription pain pills.” Advised.
Keep talking Ongoing, in-depth conversations with your teen or young adult about the dangers of substance use, including prescription drugs, io pioids, and stimulants, can help your child understand the difficulties of chasing chacha.
Find options. Ask your doctor to find non-io pioid options to manage your child’s pain from injuries, surgeries, dental work and other conditions that require painful management. This is especially serious if the child is a known user.
Know the signs. There are many signs that can lead to substance abuse, including:
- Fatigue, drowsiness and changes in sleep patterns
- Point to pupils and dark circles under the eyes
- Rapid weight loss
- Disruption of hygiene or personal appearance
- Health complaints such as constipation or nausea
- Separation from family and friends or change in friends
- Leaving school or work and declining in grade or performance
- Mood changes such as agitation, apathy or restlessness and lack of interest in hobbies and recreational activities
- Asking for more money or missing money or valuables for suspicious reasons
- Wearing long sleeved shirts in hot weather (may be associated with IV use)
- Pills or empty prescription pill bottles or prescriptions at the pharmacy without your knowledge
- Paraphenalia is used to prepare medicines for consumption, such as a syringe or hypodermic needle, a piece of string or rubber hose or string, bottle caps and kitchen spoons, cotton balls, cigarette filters, aluminum foil, lighters or candles and straw.
Reach for help. Get an evaluation to determine your treatment options if your child is abusing prescription drugs, opioids, and stimulants.
“Comprehensive, evidence-based treatments work – the earlier you intervene and take action, the better,” said in a partnership with Drug Free Kids.
Be prepared. Get and know how to use naloxone (narcana) as a precaution against overdose.
The “Partnership for Drug Free Kids” suggests, “You should always be available to both you and your child, as if you had a first aid kit.” “It can be purchased at most pharmacies or obtained through community organizations offering training and free kits.”
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