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Children, Teenagers Also Included in Opioid Epidemic Death Toll, Study Finds

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An estimated 9,000 children and teens have died from opioid poisonings since the opioid epidemic began in the late 1990s. This is according to the new study published by Yale epidemiologist Dr. Julie Gaither. An earlier study from Yale revealed that about 30 kids a year died in hospitals due to opioid poisonings. But Gaither’s study also analyzed data on deaths outside of the hospital setting.

Their team discovered that even more children and teenagers are dying as a result of the current epidemic. “It’s approximately 500 children a year are dying,” Gaither said. “Close to 60 percent are dying outside of any medical facility and nearly 40 percent are dying at home, which is very surprising.”

Of course, these deaths are not always a direct result of addiction in children and teenagers. The hypothesis is that younger children are finding unused opioids around the house that have been prescribed to parents, grandparents, older siblings, or other relatives.

Older teens are more susceptible to drug abuse. “Drug use patterns of older teens mirror those of adults,” said Gaither. Some of them have their own prescriptions, while others find prescription medications around the house and use it for recreational purposes.

A careful approach: physicians are limiting their opioid prescriptions, and for good reason. Because of the epidemic, restrictions have tightened on prescription painkillers such as opiates and opioids. And so some teens buy heroin and illicitly manufactured Fentanyl on the streets. The adverse health effects of opioid abuse come as a result of taking large doses of highly potent drugs.

Nowadays, more and more physicians are trying to avoid prescribing opioids whenever necessary. But in those scenarios where opioids are absolutely necessary to manage pain, it is also important for physicians to consider other members of the household who may be at risk of exposure, such as children and teens.

“This is a systemic problem in this country and it’s affecting all age groups, all demographic groups, races,” Gaither said. “The solutions that have been enacted to date have focused primarily on adults and on prescription opioids, and for the most part they’ve been insufficient.”

Addressing the problem for adults and children alike is necessary. Addiction in adults is still a widespread problem, but this study reveals that the damage is much worse than anticipated. The problem may continue to grow for the young unless the nation begins to consider how children and teens are being impacted by the opioid crisis.

Parents should strive to keep their medications away from children, and if possible, educate them about the potential dangers of taking these substances without a doctor’s permission. Adults should learn how to properly take their medications and follow the correct schedule so that children can emulate it as they grow older. Keep all opioids away from the reach of children, and stage an intervention if a teenager is abusing opioids.

Solving the opioid crisis requires massive, widespread changes that affect the entire country—but it is also equally important to manage drug use within the family and the home.

If someone is addicted to opioids, whether it’s an adult, a child, or even a teen, addiction treatment is necessary. A combination of medical detox and behavioral therapy can go a long way in their fight against the effects of substance abuse. But the most effective treatment programs are the ones that make use of a comprehensive, personalized approach. Look for a drug rehab facility nearby and find out what can be done to manage the effects of drug abuse. Visit RehabNear.Me to find an addiction treatment center for one's health or for a loved one.

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