Addressing a pediatric health epidemic: Implications of the opioid crisis

Efforts have included educating health care professionals and the public on the dangers of prescription opioid drug use and abuse, implementation of prescription drug monitoring programs, federal and local interventions, and most recently, the introduction of opioid drug products with abuse-deterren...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inInfectious diseases in children Vol. 30; no. 5; p. 13
Main Author Bell, Edward A
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Thorofare SLACK INCORPORATED 01.05.2017
Subjects
Age
Analgesics
Drug stores
Hospitalization
Narcotics
Pain
Pediatrics
Pharmacy
Poisoning
Poisons
Prescription drugs
Substance abuse treatment
Surveillance
Teenagers
Therapeutic drug monitoring
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Summary:Efforts have included educating health care professionals and the public on the dangers of prescription opioid drug use and abuse, implementation of prescription drug monitoring programs, federal and local interventions, and most recently, the introduction of opioid drug products with abuse-deterrent technologies (e.g., OxyContin). Facts about the opioid crisis in the U.S. * In 2013, nearly 2 million people 12 years of age or older either abused or were dependent upon opioids. * 15 million people initiated nonmedical use of prescription opioids from 2002 to 2011. * Drug overdoses (primarily due to opioid drugs) are now the leading cause of accidental death, greater than the number of deaths due to motor vehicle accidents. * From 2000 to 2014, the rate of death from opioid overdoses increased nearly 400%. * Opioid drug prescribing has increased 400% since 1999. * The United States consumes the majority, about 80%, of the world's supply of opioid drugs. * From 1999 to 2010, retail sales of opioid drugs increased 400%. * In 2012, more than 200 million prescriptions for opioids were written - this is a 200% increase when compared with 1998. * More than 250,000 people have died from opioid overdoses in the past 20 years. - 914,000 people used heroin, a 145% increase since 2007. * Heroin overdose deaths have increased more than 300% since 2010. * Visits to emergency departments involving misuse or abuse of prescription opioid drugs increased more than 150% from 2004 to 2011. * Admissions to substance abuse treatment programs related to prescription opioid drugs increased more than 400% from 2002 to 2012. * The rate of children and adolescents hospitalized for opioid drug poisoning increased 300% from 1997 to 2012. * Of adolescents treated for back pain and headaches over a recent 2-year period, 22% and 50%, respectively, were given prescription opioid drugs. * More than 7,000 people are treated each day in emergency departments for opioid misuse.
ISSN:1044-9779