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Dear Anna,
In the United States, drug overdoses and poisonings have surged to become the third-leading cause of pediatric deaths. In Maryland, the number of overdose deaths among individuals under age 25 increased from 121 deaths in the 12-month period ending in September 2022 to 130 deaths in the 12-month period ending in September 2023. Recommendations for preventing youth overdoses highlighted by Tanz et al. (2023) include education on fentanyl in the illicit drug supply, widespread naloxone access, and expanding efforts to enhance youth resilience and connectedness, aiming to curb harms associated with substance use.
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are a significant risk factor for drug use. Individuals with severe ACE scores (>4) are 7 to 10 times more likely to report drug addiction. While substance use that impacts a child's sense of safety, stability, and bonding can be categorized as an ACE, parental substance use does not equate to child abuse or neglect. February 11 to 17 is a time dedicated to raising awareness about children affected by household substance use. It serves as a crucial opportunity for healthcare providers to access resources to support children and families affected by household addiction, and offer ways to mitigate ACEs, address upstream factors, and foster healing.
In the face of this crisis, healthcare providers can play a pivotal role by reaching out to MACS for guidance on youth substance issues. MACS offers support with screening, resources, referrals, clinical consultation, and more. Explore this newsletter and the tools available on the MACS website for additional resources for youth and parental substance use.
The MACS Team
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