A recent WHYY article highlights alarming findings from a New Jersey Poison Control Center study at Rutgers, revealing how young children are being exposed to opioids in unexpected ways. While unsecured medicine cabinets remain a primary source, the research also identifies lesser-known risks—pet medications, improperly discarded doses, and medications belonging to grandparents.
The study analyzed 230 cases of opioid ingestion in children aged 6 and younger in New Jersey between 2018 and 2022, including one fatality. The findings underscore the urgent need for increased education and prevention efforts.
An important way to protect children and prevent opioid misuse is by following the American Medicine Chest Challenge (AMCC) safety steps, not just in November, but throughout the year:
- Take inventory of all prescription and over-the-counter medications in your home.
- Secure your medicine to prevent children from accessing it.
- Dispose of unused, unwanted, or expired medicine at a designated AMCC disposal site.
- Do not share your prescriptions—what's safe for one person may be dangerous for another.
- Talk to your children and doctor about the risks of prescription drug misuse.
Additionally, naloxone (Narcan), the opioid overdose reversal drug, is safe for children and should be kept on hand in households with prescription opioids.
By taking these simple but vital precautions, we can work together to reduce accidental opioid poisonings and keep our communities safe.