Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 17, 2025

Author Spotlight: An Efficient Methodology to Confidently Differentiate and Characterize Fentanyl Analogs
10:13

Author Spotlight: An Efficient Methodology to Confidently Differentiate and Characterize Fentanyl Analogs

Published on: November 8, 2024

2.4K

Opioid deaths in children in Ontario: A province-wide study

Katrina Assen1, Elizabeth Urbantke2, Michael Wilson3

  • 1Department of Paediatrics, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario.

Paediatrics & Child Health
|July 2, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Fentanyl was involved in 80% of opioid toxicity deaths in Ontario children under 10. Most cases involved improperly stored substances, highlighting the need for child safety education and improved child protection interventions.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Toxicology
  • Public Health
  • Forensic Pathology

Background:

  • Opioid-related deaths are a significant public health concern, with a notable increase in fentanyl-related adult fatalities.
  • There is limited understanding of the specific characteristics and circumstances surrounding opioid toxicity deaths in pediatric populations.
  • This study addresses the knowledge gap by examining province-wide data on child deaths in Ontario.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the characteristics and circumstances of opioid toxicity deaths in children under 10 years of age in Ontario.
  • To identify the primary causative agents and contributing factors in these pediatric fatalities.
  • To inform potential system-level interventions for prevention.

Main Methods:

  • Data were extracted from the Office of the Chief Coroner's opioid investigative aid database (October 2017–October 2021).
  • A comprehensive chart review was conducted for all recorded deaths in children under 10 years old.
  • Descriptive analysis and percentage calculations were used to characterize patient demographics and circumstances.

Main Results:

  • Ten deaths in children under 10 were identified during the study period, with an average age of 1.9 years.
  • Fentanyl was the causative opioid in 80% of cases, either alone or in combination with other drugs.
  • Improperly stored medications or illicit substances were common, and all affected children had prior child protection service involvement.

Conclusions:

  • Fentanyl is the predominant opioid implicated in pediatric deaths in this Ontario cohort.
  • Findings underscore the critical need for enhanced education regarding fentanyl risks to young children and safe storage practices.
  • Systemic improvements are suggested for child protection services in addressing parental opioid and illicit substance use.
Abstract

Keywords:
Child protectionChildrenFentanylOpiatesToxicity

More Related Videos

Demonstration of the Sequence Alignment to Predict Across Species Susceptibility Tool for Rapid Assessment of Protein Conservation16:02

Demonstration of the Sequence Alignment to Predict Across Species Susceptibility Tool for Rapid Assessment of Protein Conservation

Published on: February 10, 2023

2.8K
Use of a Piglet Model for the Study of Anesthetic-induced Developmental Neurotoxicity AIDN: A Translational Neuroscience Approach06:38

Use of a Piglet Model for the Study of Anesthetic-induced Developmental Neurotoxicity AIDN: A Translational Neuroscience Approach

Published on: June 11, 2017

11.4K

Related Concept Videos

Opioid Analgesics: Morphine and Other Natural Cogeners01:20

Opioid Analgesics: Morphine and Other Natural Cogeners

Opioids are a class of drugs that mimic endogenous opioid peptides and act on opioid receptors, and help in pain relief. These compounds are classified as natural, synthetic, or semi-synthetic. Natural opioids, like morphine, codeine, and thebaine, are derived from the opium poppy plant (Papaver somniferum or Papaver album) and are termed opiates. Synthetic opioids are artificial, while semi-synthetic opioids combine natural and synthetic compounds. Morphine, a prototypical opioid, possesses a...
381
Opioid Analgesics: Synthetic and Semisynthetic Opioids01:15

Opioid Analgesics: Synthetic and Semisynthetic Opioids

Synthetic and semisynthetic opioids are pivotal in pain management and tackling opioid addiction. Semisynthetic opioids, including morphinans (morphine derivatives), oxycodone, oxymorphone, hydrocodone, and hydromorphone, have improved pharmacokinetic profiles compared to morphine. Additionally, heroin and 6-MAM (6-Monoacetylmorphine) show better CNS penetration than morphine due to heightened lipid solubility. Hydromorphone, a potent opioid, undergoes hepatic metabolism to form the active...
446
Opioid Receptors: Overview01:22

Opioid Receptors: Overview

Opioid receptors, including the mu (μ, MOR), delta (δ, DOR), and kappa (κ, KOR) types, belong to the rhodopsin family of G protein-coupled receptors. These receptors are located throughout the central and peripheral nervous systems and in non-neuronal tissues such as macrophages and astrocytes. Opioid receptor ligands can be categorized into agonists or antagonists. Highly selective agonists include [d-Ala2, MePhe4, Gly(ol)5]-enkephalin or DAMGO for MOR, [D-Pen2,...
2.0K
Prescription, Nonprescription and Orphan Drugs01:02

Prescription, Nonprescription and Orphan Drugs

Prescription drugs require a prescription from a medical practitioner and can only be obtained from a pharmacy. They have many applications, including treating pain, anxiety, and hypertension.
The misuse and addiction to prescription drugs is a growing problem that can affect people of all age groups, specifically teenagers. This can happen when prescription medications are used in ways not intended by the prescriber, such as taking someone else's prescription or using medication for...
857
Parenteral Anesthetics: Overview01:24

Parenteral Anesthetics: Overview

Intravenous anesthetics are drugs administered parenterally to induce anesthesia or sedation. Propofol is a widely used agent formulated as a 1% emulsion in soybean oil, glycerol, and egg phosphatide. It induces rapid anesthesia primarily due to its rapid distribution from the bloodstream to target tissues and is metabolized in the liver. However, it can cause significant pain on injection and hypertriglyceridemia. Fospropofol, a water-based prodrug of propofol, lacks these adverse effects.
205
Analgesia and Pain Management01:25

Analgesia and Pain Management

Pain is critical to various clinical pathologies, provoking an urgent need for effective management. Pain, whether acute or chronic, is a complex neurochemical process. Its alleviation depends on the type, with nonopioid analgesics effective for mild to moderate pain, such as musculoskeletal or inflammatory pain, while neuropathic pain responds best to anticonvulsants, tricyclic antidepressants, or serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. For severe acute or chronic pain, opioids may be...
817