Youth Prescription Opioid Overdose ED Visits Increased Sharply In 2020
Between 2019 and 2020 (the first year of COVID-19), youth emergency department (ED) visits related to prescription-opioid overdose increased 12%. Prior to COVID-19, youth emergency department (ED) visits for overdose of prescription opioids declined by 22% between 2008 (5,874 visits) and 2019 (4,567 visits).
Most youth with opioid overdose-related ED visits were discharged to home following their ED visit. However, there was a 42% increase in youth admitted for opioid-related overdose from 2019 to 2020.
The prescription-opioid overdose rate per 100,000 U.S. children was highest in the 12 to 17 . . .