Poison Center Calls About Self-Harm or Suicidal Intent and Other Exposure Reasons in 6- to 12-Year-Old Children

To investigate the characteristics and trends of exposures to medications, dietary supplements, and psychoactive substances among children aged 6 to 12 years reported to US poison centers (PCs) with a focus on exposures associated with suspected self-harm or suicidal intent.

National Poison Data System data from 2000 to 2023 were analyzed.

There were 1 541 565 primary substance exposures among 6- to 12-year-old children reported to US PCs from 2000 to 2023. Most involved a single substance (90.1%), involved boys (58.2%), or occurred in a residence (95.8%). Although most exposures were associated with minimal medical consequences, 3.5% of children were medically admitted, 4.0% experienced moderate effects, and 0.3% had major effects; there were 95 reported deaths. Therapeutic errors accounted for 48.6% of exposures. Although exposures associated with suspected self-harm or suicidal intent represented 4.7% of exposures overall, they accounted for 25.8% of exposures among 12-year-old children. Exposures associated with suspected self-harm or suicidal intent were more likely to be medically admitted (risk ratio [RR], 14.32; 95% CI, 14.10-14.56) or experience a serious medical outcome (RR, 8.04; 95% CI, 7.91-8.17) than other reasons for exposure. The overall rate of exposure increased by 53.8% from 2000 to 2023, whereas the exposure rate associated with suspected self-harm or suicidal intent increased by 311.2%.

The rate of exposure to medications, dietary supplements, and psychoactive substances among children aged 6 to 12 years increased from 2000 to 2023, especially exposures associated with suspected self-harm or suicidal intent. Additional targeted research and interventions are needed to prevent substance exposures among 6- to 12-year-old children, especially exposures associated with suspected self-harm or suicidal intent among 11- to 12-year-old children.