Pediatric fentanyl exposures increased significantly from 2015-2023

From 2015 to 2023, pediatric nonfatal fentanyl exposures reported to poison centers rose significantly, increasing from 69 to 893 cases, a 1,194.2 percent rise. This trend was noted in both younger children and teenagers. The study found that most exposures involved ingestion, with 76.9 percent in children aged 0 to 12 and 54.1 percent in those aged 13 to 19. The prevalence of ingestion-only use also grew from 44.1 to 67.9 percent during this period. Most exposures in younger children were unintentional, while teenagers often misused fentanyl. Overall, 41 percent of cases led to major life-threatening events.