Drug ingestions in children 10-14 years old: an old problem revisited

Suicide Life Threat Behav. 2009 Aug;39(4):433-9. doi: 10.1521/suli.2009.39.4.433.

Abstract

To determine changes in rates of drug ingestions in 10-14 year old children in our country, a retrospective chart review of 10-14 year olds hospitalized for drug ingestion between 1993-1995 and 2000-2004 was performed. Odds ratios and Chi-square were used for analyses. From 1993-1995 there were 92.8 ingestions/100,000 children/year; from 2000-2004 there were 63.3 ingestions/100,000 children/year. More males ingested in 2000-2004 than 1993-1995 (26.3% vs.14.2% O.R. 2.15 [1.19, 3.92]). More patients took psychiatric medications in 2000-2004 than 1993-1995 (38.9% vs. 27.0%, O.R. 1.72 [1.06, 2.80]). More patients ingested SSRIs in 2000-2004 than 1993-1995; fewer ingested tricyclics. Hospitalization rates for drug ingestions have decreased. There has been a change in drug ingested, and more males are ingesting drugs.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Black or African American / statistics & numerical data
  • Child
  • Drug Overdose / epidemiology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Male
  • Motivation
  • Ohio / epidemiology
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Sex Distribution
  • Suicide, Attempted / psychology
  • Suicide, Attempted / statistics & numerical data*
  • Suicide, Attempted / trends
  • White People / statistics & numerical data