A new report by the state’s Department of Health indicates that for young Vermonters age 25 and under non-fatal overdose visits to emergency departments have generally risen over recent years. Teenagers may be seeing the most concerning rate of increase.
The 9-page report can be read here. Key findings include, “Between 2018 and 2022, unintentional nonfatal overdose ED visits involving cannabis, prescription, OTC, opioid, and stimulant drugs increased among Vermonters under 25.”
Among these overdoses, cannabis, prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, and stimulants account for the most increase.
For 2022, there were 74.4 non-fatal (i.e., not suicidal) accident overdoses per 10,000 ED visits. That number was down some from 84.7 in 2021. The concern is that it’s still a large uptick from before COVID-19 when there were 68 and 62.2 such incidents in 2018 and 2019 respectively.
Other notes include these accidental overdoses include both mistakes with prescription and/or over-the-counter drugs as well as overdosing during the recreational use of drugs.
Teenagers see most visits.
Among the youth, teenagers are seeing the biggest rate of non-fatal accidental overdoses. Teens aged 15-19 years old had 116.4 incidents in 2021 and 115.8 in 2022.
The report states, “Teenagers and young adults typically had higher rates of unintentional nonfatal overdose compared to younger Vermonters between 2018 and 2022, with 15-19-year-olds having the highest rates.”
Most accessible drugs the biggest culprit?
Between the years of 2018 and 2022, over-the-counter drugs were the most common cause of non-fatal accidental overdoses, accounting for 14.5 incidents per 10,000 ED visits. Marijuana accounts for the smallest amount of incidents, with 6.7 incidents per 10,000 ED visits.
In the mix, prescription drugs account for 13.1 incidents, and stimulants and opioids account for 9.5 and 9.1 incidents, respectively.
This data is further broken down by age group. For example, babies and toddlers, ages birth to 4, see the most accident overdoses involving prescription drugs. Whereas among those aged 20-24, the most common culprit is opioids.
Effects of legal marijuana
The study notes that while cannabis overdoses are nonfatal, they still can be disturbing experiences. It states, “ Other states, such as Michigan and Colorado, have observed increases in unintentional cannabis overdoses in youth after cannabis has been legalized for medical or recreational use. Cannabis overdoses are nonfatal, but it is recommended to seek medical attention in the event of an overdose.”
Lock up drugs
The report offers some tangible reminders on how to keep drugs stored securely. It states, “To avoid overdoses, medication, and other substances should always be stored securely out of reach of children, and children should be supervised around these substances to reduce the possibility of ingestion. Poisoning in children is associated with lethargy, loss of coordination, an altered mental status, vomiting, and difficulty breathing.”
New Federal Policy
The incoming Trump Administration has already made statements on how they will address the nation’s overdose crises.
“We’re going to advertise how bad drugs are for you,” Trump said. “They ruin your look, they ruin your face, they ruin your skin, they ruin your teeth,” Trump said recently at a conference with Turning Point in Phoenix, Arizona.
