Roughly 3.3 million kids, or roughly 5 out of every 100 kids in the U.S., are presently prescribed medication for ADHD.Increase in ADHD Medication ErrorsIn a brand-new study, published just recently in the journal Pediatrics, researchers at the Center for Injury Research and Policy and Central Ohio Poison Center at Nationwide Childrens Hospital examined the attributes and patterns of out-of-hospital ADHD medication mistakes among people younger than 20 years old reported to U.S. toxin centers from 2000 through 2021. During the study period, there were 87,691 medication mistake cases including ADHD medications as the main substance amongst this age group reported to U.S. poison centers, yielding an average of 3,985 individuals each year. Roughly 93% of direct exposures occurred in the home.Common Medication Error ScenariosAmong medication mistakes including ADHD medications as the primary substance, the most common circumstances were:54%– “Inadvertently taken/given medication twice”13%– “Inadvertently taken/given somebody elses medication”13%– “Wrong medication taken/given””The boost in the reported number of medication errors is consistent with the findings of other research studies reporting an increase in the medical diagnosis of ADHD among U.S. kids during the past two decades, which is most likely associated with a boost in the use of ADHD medications,” said Natalie Rine, PharmD, co-author of the research study and director of the Central Ohio Poison Center at Nationwide Childrens Hospital.Health Impacts and Prevention StrategiesIn 83% of cases, the individual did not get treatment in a health care center; however, 2.3% of cases resulted in admission to a healthcare center, including 0.8% to an important care unit.
A study reveals a significant rise in ADHD medication errors in kids, with the majority taking place at home and involving males aged 6-12. It calls for enhanced education and enhanced medication management to reduce these errors. Credit: SciTechDaily.com Experts call for patient and caregiver education and for advancement of enhanced child-resistant medication giving and tracking systems.Attention-deficit/ hyperactivity condition (ADHD) is amongst the most common pediatric neurodevelopmental conditions. In 2019, nearly 10% of United States (U.S.) children had a diagnosis of ADHD. Around 3.3 million children, or approximately 5 out of every 100 children in the U.S., are currently recommended medication for ADHD.Increase in ADHD Medication ErrorsIn a new study, released just recently in the journal Pediatrics, researchers at the Center for Injury Research and Policy and Central Ohio Poison Center at Nationwide Childrens Hospital investigated the qualities and patterns of out-of-hospital ADHD medication mistakes among individuals younger than 20 years old reported to U.S. toxin centers from 2000 through 2021. According to the study, the annual number of ADHD-related medication errors increased 299% from 2000 to 2021. Throughout the study period, there were 87,691 medication error cases involving ADHD medications as the primary compound among this age group reported to U.S. poison centers, yielding approximately 3,985 people each year. In 2021 alone, 5,235 medication mistakes were reported, equating to one child every 100 minutes. The overall trend was driven by males, representing 76% of the medication mistakes and by the 6-12-year-old age, accounting for 67% of the mistakes. Approximately 93% of exposures took place in the home.Common Medication Error ScenariosAmong medication errors including ADHD medications as the primary compound, the most common scenarios were:54%– “Inadvertently taken/given medication twice”13%– “Inadvertently taken/given another persons medication”13%– “Wrong medication taken/given””The increase in the reported variety of medication errors is constant with the findings of other research studies reporting a boost in the medical diagnosis of ADHD amongst U.S. children during the past 20 years, which is most likely connected with an increase in using ADHD medications,” said Natalie Rine, PharmD, co-author of the research study and director of the Central Ohio Poison Center at Nationwide Childrens Hospital.Health Impacts and Prevention StrategiesIn 83% of cases, the individual did not receive treatment in a health care facility; nevertheless, 2.3% of cases resulted in admission to a health care facility, including 0.8% to a crucial care system. In addition, 4.2% of cases were related to a serious medical outcome. Some children experienced agitation, tremors, seizures, and modifications in psychological status. Kids more youthful than 6 years of ages were twice as likely to experience a major medical outcome and were more than 3 times as likely to be confessed to a healthcare center than 6-19-year-olds.”Because ADHD medication mistakes are avoidable, more attention needs to be offered to client and caretaker education and advancement of improved child-resistant medication dispensing and tracking systems,” stated Gary Smith, MD, DrPH, senior author of the research study and director of the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Childrens Hospital. “Another method may be a transition from pill bottles to unit-dose packaging, like blister packs, which may assist in keeping in mind whether a medication has currently been taken or provided.”Although prevention efforts must focus on the home setting additional attention needs to be offered to schools and other settings where teenagers and kids hang around and receive medication.Reference: “Pediatric ADHD Medication Errors Reported to United States Poison Centers, 2000 to 2021” by Mikaela M. DeCoster, BS; Henry A. Spiller, MS, D.ABAT; Jaahnavi Badeti, MPH, BDS; Marcel J. Casavant, MD; Natalie I. Rine, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP; Nichole L. Michaels, PhD; Motao Zhu, MD, MS, PhD; Gary A. Smith, MD, DrPH, 18 September 2023, PEDIATRICS.DOI: 10.1542/ peds.2023-061942Data for this study were acquired from the National Poison Data System (NPDS), which is maintained by Americas Poison Centers, previously the American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC). Poison centers get phone calls through the nationwide Poison Help Line (1-800-222-1222) and file info about the product, route of direct exposure, specific exposed, exposure situation, and other information, which are reported to the NPDS.
