Non-fatal Stimulant Overdoses Are Rising Among Youth

The US overdose crisis has resulted in decreasing life expectancy. Researchers investigated trends in non-fatal overdose among children (0–10), younger adolescents (11–14), and older adolescents/young adults (15–24 years), via a retrospective analysis of national emergency department surveillance data from 47 US states between April 2016 and September 2019. Substances were identified by International Classification of Diseases diagnosis codes (i.e., all-drugs, opioids, heroin, and stimulants).

• All non-fatal overdoses increased among children and younger adolescents over the study period (average increase of 2% and 2.3%, respectively).
• Non-fatal overdose attributed to heroin decreased among older adolescents/young adults (average 3.3% decrease per quarter over the study period).
• Non-fatal stimulant overdoses increased among all 3 age groups over the study period (average increase of 3.3% for children, 4% for younger adolescents, 2.3% for older adolescents/young adults).

Comments: Public health interventions to address the overdose crisis, including access to medication and naloxone distribution, have largely targeted opioids. Even with a level of success with these measures, rates of overdose continue to rise; this analysis demonstrates that stimulants are a major contributor. These findings suggest that to reverse the overdose epidemic, broad measures that focus on substance use prevention and addiction treatment for all classes of substances must supplement current efforts.

Sharon Levy, MD

Reference: Roehler DR, Olsen EO, Mustaquim D, Vivolo-Kantor AM. Suspected nonfatal drug-related overdoses among youth in the US: 2016-2019. Pediatrics. 2021;147(1):e2020003491.