Study shows rising rates of reported intentional substance exposures at school
A new study found that rates of intentional substance exposures at school reported to U.S. poison centers increased substantially among elementary- and middle-school-aged children from 2000 through 2024, while high-school-aged adolescents continued to experience the highest rates of serious medical outcomes and hospital admissions.
A recent study published in The American Journal of Emergency Medicine reveals a significant rise in intentional substance exposures at schools involving elementary- and middle-school-aged children in the United States from 2000 to 2024. Researchers analyzed data from U.S. poison centers and found that the overall rate of such exposures increased by 77.5%, with particularly alarming growth rates among younger children and middle-schoolers.
In contrast, high-school-aged adolescents experienced a slight decline in rates. The study emphasized the need for targeted prevention efforts and early intervention strategies, given the higher severity of medical outcomes and hospital admissions among high-school students, often linked to substance abuse and suspected self-harm or suicidal intent.
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