Ingestion of Illicit Substances by Young Children Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Jose Luis Vazquez Martinez
- 29 April 2023
Source:
Key Points
Question How have ingestion rates of illicit substances in young children changed before and during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Findings This cross-sectional study used an interrupted time series including 7659 children presenting with ingestions. There was an immediate increase in overall ingestions among children younger than 6 years in the pandemic period compared with the prepandemic period, attributed to cannabis, opioid, and ethanol ingestions, and there was a sustained monthly increase in overall ingestions attributed to opioids.
Meaning Additional research is needed to understand the reason for this study’s observed increased ingestion rate and to provide interventions and policies to address this trend.
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