Monthly Archives: June 2018

Asking Saves Kids

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Kiesha Fraser Doh, MD
kiesha.fraser @emory.edu

 

As of June 14th there have been 23 school shootings this year!  A total of 1,392 children have been killed or injured by firearms. In comparison during the influenza season from October 2017 to May 2018 a total of 172 children died. [1]This year of 2018 has been especially deadly for children, with 547 firearm deaths this year. [2]Thus more children died from firearm injuries this year compared to influenza deaths despite frequent media reports about influenza death compared to firearm injuries.

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Opioid Policies and Pediatrics: When the Pendulum Swings Children Will Get Hurt

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Mike Greenwald, MD
mgreenw @emory.edu

 

 

 

 

 

 

Even if you have turned off all news sources over the past 2 years it would be hard to escape the urgent alarms regarding opioid misuse in the US. The statistics are remarkable.

  • Since 1999, overdose deaths involving opioids quadrupled.1
  • 2000-2015:greater than half a million people died from drug overdoses.
  • 91 Americans die every day from an opioid overdose.
  • 1999 to 2010: number of prescription opioids sold to pharmacies, hospitals, and doctors’ offices nearly quadrupled.2,3

This is compelling evidence that we have a problem – perhaps some more than others.  Opioid addiction is a frequent challenge for those caring for adults in the Emergency Department with some centers (e.g. rural) seeing more of this than others. Those who care for injured and ill children are left with 2 important questions: (1) What is the evidence regarding opioid addiction in children? (2) To what extent is the management of acute pain in children contributing to an increase in opioid related morbidity and mortality?

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