Peer-reviewed article
Trends in opioid-, alcohol-, and drug-related mortality among US children aged 0-4 years: an analysis of the CDC WONDER Database trends, 1999-2023.
Geiger T, Shahmohammadi Arani R, Haase K, Foley OA, Tauseef A ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study analysed trends in deaths among US children aged 0-4 years related to opioids, alcohol, and drugs between 1999 and 2023 using CDC data. Deaths from these causes increased overall during this period, with higher rates in rural areas, the Midwest region, and among males and Non-Hispanic Black children. The findings reveal significant geographic and demographic disparities in child mortality from substance-related causes. The authors call for preventative measures and educational tools to address this growing public health problem.
Key points
- Overall crude mortality rates from opioid-, alcohol-, and drug-related causes showed an upward trend among children aged 0-4 from 1999 to 2023
- Rural regions had higher crude mortality rates than urban regions in nearly every year
- Male children had higher crude mortality rates than female children
- Non-Hispanic Black or African American children experienced the largest increase in crude mortality rate compared to other racial/ethnic groups
- The Midwest region had the highest mortality rates across all US census regions
Limitations
This is a descriptive epidemiological analysis of mortality trends without information on causation or why these disparities exist. The study does not evaluate any intervention or provide evidence on how to reduce these deaths.
Abstract
Over the past two decades, the USA has observed fluctuating increases in opioid-, alcohol-, and drug-related mortality amongst children under the age of 4. Many factors contribute to mortality, and identifying preventative measures represents a critical gap in public health. This study aims to identify trends in related deaths and highlight potential target areas to combat mortality increases. Data was extracted from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention Wide-ranging Online data for Epidemiologic Research (CDC WONDER) database, and trends in crude mortality rate were analyzed for children ages 0-4 from 1999 to 2023. Results were stratified according to sex, region, race, and age; trends were assessed utilizing Joinpoint analysis software. Overall, crude mortality rates demonstrated an upward trend. Across every census region, there was an increase in mortality, noting the highest in the Midwest region. In nearly every year, rural regions are noted to have a higher crude mortality rate. Male sex was associated with a higher crude mortality rate, and the Non-Hispanic Black or African American population had the largest increase in crude mortality rate compared to other racial/ethnic groups. Conclusion: Complex factors contribute to mortality in this population, with clear disparities across geographic locations and demographic groups. These disparities highlight the need for further exploration regarding the effects of the opioid epidemic in the pediatric population. Integrating preventative measures and educational tools into medical education and healthcare systems across the country represents a notable absence in current practice, and direction for future research.