Researchers find rate of fatal opioid poisonings among children more than doubled over 13-year span

Researchers from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) have found that opioids were responsible for more than half of all fatal poisonings in children ages 5 and younger between 2005 and 2018, more than double the proportion of fatal poisonings caused by opioids in 2005. Additionally, over-the-counter drugs still contribute to fatal poisonings in this age group despite increased regulation. The findings, published today in the journal Pediatrics, underscore the need for improved intervention to prevent further fatal poisonings.