The Impact of Opioid Addiction on Child Suicide Rates in the United States

Opioid addiction remains a prominent topic in the US. According to a study published in Demography, opioid addiction is starting to demonstrate a correlation with child suicide rates due to an increase in child suicides since 2010.

"Citing the rise in child suicide rates, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and the Children's Hospital Association declared a national state of emergency in children's mental health in 2021," said author, David Powell, PhD.

However, these rates are also influenced by peer bullying, increased rates of child neglect, and changes in household living arrangements associated with the opioid crisis.

Although experts strategized to reformulate prescription opioids to deter misuse, results of the study show that users found alternatives to support their habits. "Reformulation made it more difficult to misuse OxyContin, and as access to abusable prescription opioids decreased, many individuals switched to illicit drugs," said Dr Powell.

Dr Powell indicated that "although adolescents did not increase their use of illicit opioids because of reformulation, they were negatively affected by the broader consequences of the illicit opioid crisis," stating that due to this reformulation, rates of child neglect became a "strong predictor of youth suicide and indicative of deteriorating conditions for children."

Additionally, prescription reformulation for opioids also influences environmental factors, directly impacting suicide rates in children. "The shift to illicit opioids increased rates of infectious diseases and food insecurity while prompting a decline in work capacity, household income, and health insurance rate," said Dr Powell.

The culmination of these impacts and their effects on child suicide rates raise concerns for health care experts and lawmakers to try and better understand how to combat the opioid epidemic while preserving child livelihood. "Child suicide rates remain at historically high levels, yet there is limited research on the determinants of this crisis. Although the overdose rate and child mental health are both considered national crises, they have generally been considered independent," said Dr Powell. And this study helps drive home that both issues are directly correlated.

Reference

Powell, D. Growth in suicide rates among children during the illicit opioid crisis. Demography. 2023;11077660. doi:10.1215/00703370-11077660