Increasing Trends in Pediatric Exposure to Medications and Supplements from 2000 to 2023

Between 2000 and 2023, there was a significant rise in the number of children aged 6 to 12 years who were exposed to medications, dietary supplements, and psychoactive substances, according to a comprehensive study published in the journal Pediatrics. Researchers analyzed data from the National Poison Data System, identifying over 1.5 million primary substance exposures among this age group over the 23-year period.

While most exposures resulted in minimal medical consequences, a notable percentage led to serious health outcomes, including hospital admissions, moderate or major effects, and even fatalities—95 deaths were reported during this period. Interestingly, nearly half of these exposures were due to therapeutic errors, such as accidental ingestion or incorrect dosing. Suspected self-harm or suicidal intent was involved in approximately 4.7% of cases, with this figure rising sharply over the years by over 300%, highlighting a concerning trend.

Children aged 12 were particularly vulnerable to exposures related to self-harm or suicidal thoughts, accounting for over a quarter of such cases. Those with suspected self-harm exposure were far more likely to require hospitalization or experience severe health outcomes. The study emphasizes that the overall exposure rate increased by more than 50%, with the rise driven largely by substances linked to self-harm, which surged by over 300%.

Experts suggest that these findings underscore the urgent need for targeted prevention strategies, better safety measures, and parental education to reduce pediatric exposure to potentially harmful substances. Further research is essential to develop effective interventions to protect children from these increasing risks.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-09-pediatric-exposure-medications-supplements.html