Pediatric opioid fatalities: What can we learn for prevention?

• Published in: Journal of forensic sciences 2021-07, Vol.66 (4), p.1410-1419
• Main Authors: Bishop‐Freeman, Sandra C., Young, Kerry A., Aurelius, Michelle B., Hudson, Jason S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Children; Drugs; Fatalities; Fentanyl; Ingestion; Narcotics; opioid epidemic; overdose; pathology; pediatric poisoning; Pediatrics; Poisoning; Risk management; toxicology
• ISSN: 0022-1198; 1556-4029
• DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.14725

The aim of this study was to highlight 19 cases investigated by the North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner over the last 12 years involving accidental or undetermined manner of death opioid ingestions leading to fatalities in young children. These pediatric ingestions have closely mirrored the opioid epidemic in adults transitioning from prescription medications to illicit drugs including fentanyl and fentanyl analogues. Unlike a typical adult ingestion for purposes of self‐harm or pleasure, poisonings in toddlers and infants are usually the result of curiosity, exploration, a decreased sense of danger, or imitation of adult or older sibling behavior. Eleven of the decedents were between the ages of 8 and 24 months. Among the cases were 12 prescription opioid exposure deaths and 7 illicit drug poisonings. A majority of the decedents were found unresponsive in an unkept home and/or in unsafe sleeping spaces with easy access to drugs or drug materials, which stresses the importance of safe pediatric sleeping conditions. After a complete pathological investigation, several of the cases had physical or scene evidence demonstrating that foil, plastic, or paper small enough to be ingested can contain enough potent opioid to cause death. Details from the toxicological investigation are included for each case to provide postmortem whole blood drug concentrations for forensic practitioners. Accidental pediatric poisonings are preventable. Risk reduction through improving awareness and education of the dangers of opioids is a key factor in mitigating these tragedies.