Oregon Poison Center reports disturbing increase in young children exposed to fentanyl

Oregon health officials are urging people to make a stronger effort to keep young children away from drugs, after the Oregon Poison Center (OPC) at OHSU reported a massive increase in the number of children under six years of age exposed to fentanyl.

In 2020, the OPC reported zero cases of children under the age of 6 that were treated for fentanyl exposure.

  • In 2021, there were two cases.
  • In 2022, nine cases.
  • In 2023, 16 cases.

The average age of these 16 children was 1.5 years old. About 80% of them were exposed in their own homes.

In September 2023, the Portland Police Bureau announced nine children had invested fentanyl, just from June to September. Seven were under the age of six. Five died.

“There’s one issue here where you’ve got kids who are too young to know what they’re doing that are consuming drugs and those kids are consuming drugs in places where people use drugs,” said PPB Capt. Jake Jensen in September. “So, cars, living rooms, kitchens, that kind of stuff.”

Health officials say fentanyl is 50 times more potent than heroin, and in a child under six, the chance of serious injury or death is much greater.

“A child who ingests 3,000 or 4,000 micrograms of fentanyl is 50 times the dose they should get, which is different from most other people,” said Dr. Rob Hendrickson at the Oregon Poison Center.

Here’s a look at the numbers at poison centers nationwide.

  • In 2016, there were only 10 cases.
  • In 2020, 120 cases.
  • In 2023, 539 cases.

From 2020 to 2023, this was a 449% increase. Since 2016, a 5,390% increase

From 2013 to 2023, 1,466 children in the U.S. were treated for fentanyl exposure at poison centers, according to data compiled by OHSU.

  • 91% were under two years old.
  • 82% were exposed in their own homes.
  • 4% — 51 children — died.

Officials say it’s a sobering reality of the illicit opioid being smuggled into the U.S. from the Mexico border and infecting the entire nation, not just Oregon.

“Fentanyl is very cheap to make,” said Dr. Tom Jeanne with the Oregon Health Authority. “There’s massive quantities coming in through our borders.”

“I think this is related to fentanyl being available in the community,” said Hendrickson. “We didn’t see fentanyl pediatric cases until fentanyl was introduced in the illicit drug market.”

Health officials are urging caretakers to keep all drugs out of the reach of children and consider getting a lockbox or lock bag for your medications.

They also say if you have opioids at home, keep naloxone with you. They say an adult dose is safe for children.

 

by Emily Girsch, KATU Staff

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