In 2000, 14 children in the U.S. under age 5 died after ingesting opioids. By 2015, that number climbed to 51, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These are some of the youngest victims of the nation’s opioid epidemic. The number of children’s deaths is still small relative to the overall toll from opioids, but toddler fatalities have climbed steadily over the last 10 years.
Officials with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warn that with Americans still consuming record amounts of opioids, the threat these medications pose to children is increasing. The most commonly cited medicines from calls to poison control centers were hydrocodone, oxycodone and codeine.
Each family who loses a toddler to opioids confronts a death that probably could have been prevented.
Increasing awareness among people with prescription drugs, physicians putting more thought into prescribing opioids and prescription drug monitoring programs implemented can contribute to the decrease in exposure.
Medication errors pose a significant threat to patient safety. When providers prescribe patients an inappropriate medication and the patient takes it, it can lead to adverse care outcomes and put the patient as risk of becoming more ill. As a healthcare community, we can better detect prescribing mistakes and access issues through strong patient engagement and education, ultimately boosting medication safety and reducing harm.
Read more in this ABCS News article
For more information and tips, check out these Drug Safety tips or call your local poison center at 800/222-1222.
The Great Plains QIN partners with providers, pharmacists and stakeholders in the region to reduce and monitor Adverse Drug Events (ADEs). A specific strategy to advance this work is to monitor Medicare consumer ADE rates on several prescription medications; one being opioids. Learn how you can partner with the Great Plains QIN to reduce ADEs by visiting our website.