Incidents of Children Being Poisoned by Fentanyl have Risen in the US, National Data Show

Incidents of Children in the US Being Poisoned by the Synthetic Opioid Fentanyl “Increured and Became More Seven,” The New Study Reveals.

LAUNCHED AS CONGRESS CONTINENS TO REVIEW THE Halt Fentanyl ActThe Research Follows an Analysis of Nonfatal Fentanyl Pediatric (AGED 0–19) Exposures Reported to Poison Centers in 49 US States From 2015 Through to 2023.

In Total, Add 3.009 Cases Were Detailed Across the Eight-Year Period.

• IN 2023 ALONE, 44.6% WERE LIFE-THREATENING INCIDENTS IN WHICH HAVER HARM THAT HAVE HAVE OVERATED IN DEATH IF NOT TREATED-AN INCREASE OF THATE SEVERE CASES FROM 15.9% IN 2015.
• The Majority (81.7%) of Patients AGED 0–12 WERE EXPOSED UNINTENTIALLY.
• MOST PATENTS (65.7%) AGED 13–19 WERE NOTED AS HAVING USED FENTANYL CONTENTIALLY FOR NONMEDICAL PURPOSES.
• Most Incidents (1,771) Were in Youth AGED 13–19 (58.9%), Compred with 1,238 cases (41.1%) Divolving Children AGED 0-12. ECCOUNTED FOR 58.5% (1.754) OF ALL CASES AND FEMALES 41.5% (1.244).

The Findings are published in The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol AbuseThe US Continues to Battle A Severe Opioid Crisis “Driven by Fentanyl Use.” Fentanyl, with co-use of psychostimulants, has to define the “Fourth wave” of the opioid crisis.

Counterfeit Pills Containing Fentanyl “Flood The Illicit Market.” And in recent years, Seven Out of Every Ten Counterfeit Pills Seized Contained to Potentially Deadly Amount of Fentyl.

Since 2021, There has Been Over 70,000 Synthetic Opioid-Relanted Deaths Per Year; Although the Latest, PROVISIONAL DATE SUCHS SUCHS SHOWS ARE DECREASING.

IT IS UNDERSTOOD THAT FRIES ARE A MAJOR SOURCE OF PRESCRIPTION PILLS PILLS ADOLES AND SOCIAL MEDIAL IS ALSO COMMONLY USED TO PURCHASE Drugs from Strangers. Various Drugs Not Directly Purchased from a Pharmacy can be adulterated with fentanyl.

Driven by A “Lack of Focus on Nonfatal Overdose and How Pediatric Population Are Being Affected,” The Expert Team Found Exhibitions Increeed Over the Eight Years. Among Those AGED 0-12, this was by 924.3%. For 13–19-year-Oolds there was 1.506% increase.

Lead Author Dr. Joseph Palamar, from the Department of Population Health at Nyu Grossman School of Medicine, In New York, Says Their Results Demonstrate the Need for “Increated Prevention, Treatment, and Harm Reduction.”

“We Can’t Forget That Kids Are Also At Risk During This Opioid Crisis,” Explains Dr. Palamar, Who is also Director of the National Drug Early Warning Network (Ndews).

“Parents Need to Be Aware That Teens Can Purchase Pills via Apps That Are Sold as Adderall Or Xanax But currently Contain Fentanyl.

“Parents and Others, Too, Need to Be Careful not to Leave Fentanyl, Whether Licit or Illicit, Out in the Open Around Usupervised Children.

“Even Second-Hand Exposure to Paraphernalia or Baggies Can Contain Small Amounts of Fentanyl and Can Be Lethal To Youngsters.

“Children May Touch or Ingest Such items Out of Curiosity, Through A Lack of A Sense of Danger, Orden imitation of a Parent Who Uses. Even Used Fentanyl Patches Can Lead to Accidental or Contentional Poisonings Padiatric Populations.”

Co-Author Dr. Joshua Black, Senior Scientist at Rocky Mountain Poison & Drug Safety, the Division of Denver Health and Hospital Authority, Adds, “Parents and Peers Need to Be Able to Promptly Detect Signs and Symptoms of Opioid Overdose-Singluding Looking Pale, Slow Or No Breathing, Coma, Sometimes Constricted Pupils -and Know When To Seek Help.

“We Encourage People to Contact to Poison Center IF they suspect a poisoning (1-800-222-1222) or call 911 if Someone collapses, hasizure, has Trouble Breathing, Or Can’t Be Awakened Following Drug Use.

“Having Naloxone Available Can Reverse The Potential Overdose from Opioids. Bystanders are Present in About 40% of Illicit Opioid-Relanted Deaths, So It is Essential for Bystanders to Be Able To Response.”

Fellow Co-Author Dr. Linda Cottler, Director of NDews, from the Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health and Health Professions, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Further Recommends Parents and Health Care Providers to “Be Aware of the Receive of the Receue of the Receiving Training ABout these Drugs and what they do and what they look like, and how to caration teens about the dangers of friends and siblings sharing diverted drugs. “

Limitations of the Research Include That the Data Source Used Only Captures to Portion of Fentanyl-Related Poisonings.

“There is a Lack of Systematic Collection of Data on Nonfatal Exposure and a Major Limitation is that per peaple who are Exposed or Overdose of Not Contact Poison Centers,” The Authors Report.