Children Poisoned by Buprenorphine
An alarming trend has started to develop where children are being poisoned by buprenorphine, which a drug commonly prescribed to treat opiate addiction. Suboxone is a form of buprenorphine and is usually prescribed to heroin or opiate addicts to help them get over the painful withdrawal symptoms associated with the drug use. Suboxone comes in the form of a dissolvable strip that is placed under the tongue. Since the medication contains a synthetic opiate, it can be very dangerous for children.
The study shows that Suboxone was the most common drug stated during emergency room visits for children aged six and younger. This means that not only are these children gaining access to this harmful drug, but it also means that they are surrounded by someone or a group of people who are or have been abusing opiates. In its pure state, buprenorphine is actually much more powerful than morphine.
The study showed that for every 100,000 people who are prescribed buprenorphine, 200 children will be hospitalized from the medication. Almost 800 children were hospitalized last year for buprenorphine poisoning, with some of them not making it out alive.
Some people wonder if the reason why these children are gaining access to the drug is because the parents or guardians are irresponsible. In order to be in a situation where one needs Suboxone, the person has to be dependent on heroin or prescription painkillers in the first place. There can be a carelessness associated with the behavior.
Thankfully, the Federal Government wasted no time in ordering that new childproof packaging be developed for medicine like Suboxone. It is believed that this new packaging will help reduce the number of children from ingesting the drug. Other buprenorphine makers are also marketing individually wrapped tablets. It is thought that these individually wrapped tablets can reduce the harm associated with accidental overdoses by children. However, regardless of how the Suboxone is packaged, it is vital that it is kept far out of reach of children.