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Drug ingestions in children 10-14 years old: an old problem revisited

Wendy Pomerantz1, Michael Gittelman, Sarah Farris

  • 1Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Division of Emergency Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA. wendy.pomerantz@cchmc.org

Suicide & Life-Threatening Behavior
|October 2, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Hospitalizations for drug ingestions among 10-14 year olds decreased significantly. However, more males are ingesting drugs, particularly psychiatric medications like SSRIs, indicating a shift in ingestion patterns.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Toxicology
  • Public Health Surveillance
  • Adolescent Health

Background:

  • Drug ingestions in children are a significant public health concern.
  • Understanding trends in pediatric drug ingestions is crucial for prevention and intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze changes in the rates and patterns of drug ingestions among 10-14 year old children.
  • To identify demographic and substance-related shifts in pediatric drug ingestions over time.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective chart review of hospitalized 10-14 year olds.
  • Comparison of data from 1993-1995 and 2000-2004.
  • Statistical analysis using Odds Ratios and Chi-square tests.

Main Results:

  • Overall hospitalization rates for drug ingestions decreased from 92.8 to 63.3 per 100,000 children/year.
  • The proportion of male ingestions increased from 14.2% to 26.3%.
  • Psychiatric medication ingestions rose from 27.0% to 38.9%, with an increase in Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) and a decrease in tricyclics.

Conclusions:

  • Hospitalization rates for drug ingestions in 10-14 year olds have declined.
  • There has been a notable shift in the types of drugs ingested, with a rise in psychiatric medications, especially SSRIs.
  • An increasing proportion of males are involved in drug ingestions, highlighting a changing demographic profile.

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