More Kids Having Seizures Due To Injestion of Legal and Illegal Drugs

A troubling rise in child seizures linked to self-injection of illegal and common household drugs demands urgent attention to drug safety in American homes.

At a Glance

Child seizures from medications spiked from 2009 to 2023, according to research.
Incidents rose due to both legal and illegal substances being readily accessible.
Common seized medications include antihistamines, antidepressants, painkillers, and synthetic cannabinoids.
Experts urge that child-resistant packaging and better storage practices be enforced.

Steep Surge in Cases

An alarming trend shows that the number of seizures suffered by children due to medications and illegal substances increased from 1,418 in 2009 to 2,749 in 2023. Researchers from the University of Virginia School of Medicine reported these findings at the European Emergency Medicine Congress. Substantial increases in seizure incidents were observed in both minors who are under the age of six and youth aged between six and nineteen.

Various medications were involved in these seizures. Over-the-counter antihistamines, prescription antidepressants, such as bupropion, painkillers like tramadol, and synthetic cannabinoids such as K2 or spice, were particularly prominent. “The increase in seizures in children exposed to these drugs is extremely worrying and must be addressed,” remarked Professor Christopher Holstege.

Seizures caused by children swallowing medications or illegal substances doubled over 15-year period.https://t.co/v5e7BLZsqv?
The most common substances include over-the-counter antihistamines, prescription antidepressants and painkillers, and illegal synthetic cannabinoids.

— NYC EMS Watch (@NYCEMSwatch) October 15, 2024

Links to Easy Access

In the wake of these findings, experts are pointing out how many children are exposed to large quantities of these substances at home. “Legal and illegal drugs can be bought online and shipped around the world,” stated Dr. Conner McDonald. He added that “these drugs are becoming more available in homes and within the reach of children.”

“Depending on variables such as where a seizure happens, how long it continues and the pre-existing health of the child, seizures can lead to long-term damage or even death,” McDonald added.

This issue raises questions about how substances are stored within households and about how packaging could be made safer for children. In this light, researchers pressingly recommend parents and guardians exercise vigilance in securing medications.

Recommendations and Future Actions

“Seizure is one of the most severe symptoms a poisoned patient can experience, and children are particularly vulnerable,” said McDonald. He made a point to note that in some cases, seizures can have long-term impacts or even cause death.

Documents drawn from the US National Poison Data System, with contributions from 55 poison centers, indicate the importance of the issue. The issue is “a stark reminder to parents and carers to store medications safely so that children cannot get hold of them,” according to Holstege.