Study Shows Sharp Increase in Rate of Unintentional Ingestions of Recreational Drugs Among Young Children Since 2000

COLUMBUS, Ohio – A new study reveals that unintentional ingestions of recreational drugs by young children have increased dramatically in the last 25 years. Researchers at the Center for Injury Research and Policy of the Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and the Central Ohio Poison Center analyzed calls to U.S. poison centers and found that the recreational drug ingestion rate per 100,000 U.S. children younger than 6 years old increased 3,307% from 2000 to 2024, with a rapid increase beginning in 2013.

In a study published in BMC Public Health, researchers found 41,612 unintentional ingestions involving recreational drugs among children younger than 6 years reported to United States poison centers from 2000-2024. Most were among children younger than 3 years (58%), involved a single substance (96%), and occurred in a residence (96%).

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“The recreational drug ingestion rate among children younger than 6 years reported to United States poison centers increased substantially over the study period, with increases especially pronounced for edible marijuana and psilocybin products,” said Gary Smith, MD, DrPH, senior author of the study and director of the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children’s.  “Additional efforts are needed to prevent these unintentional ingestions among this vulnerable population, including education of parents and caregivers, promotion of safe storage practices, and implementation and enforcement of child safety-focused public policy.”

Although 51% of children experienced no or minor effects, 5% had a major effect (i.e. symptoms are life-threatening or result in significant disability or disfigurement). There were six deaths, all children younger than 3 years. Children younger than 3 years were more likely to experience a major effect, be medically admitted and specifically, admitted to a critical care unit than children 3-5 years old. The higher ingestion rate in children younger than 3 years is consistent with the younger age group’s developmental behaviors associated with increased mobility, exploration of the environment, and placing objects in the mouth.

Cannabinoids accounted for 85% of ingestions, with edible marijuana preparations representing almost half of all ingestions. The rate of cannabinoid ingestions increased by 2,349% from 2015 to 2024. This increase in cannabinoid ingestions was driven by the ingestion rate of marijuana edibles, which rapidly grew from 2013 (when the first marijuana edible ingestion was reported in this study) to 2024. Although the rate of marijuana edibles exceeded that of other preparations starting in 2019, the rate of the latter also increased by 1,460% from 2010 to 2024. This may, in part, be associated with growing state legalization of cannabis and increased availability of cannabis products in the home. Ingestion rates following cannabinoids were stimulants (8%), psychedelics (including psilocybin) (4%), opioids (3%), and dissociative agents (<1%). Ingestions involving opioids, stimulants, and dissociative agents were more likely to be admitted to a critical care unit than the other substance categories combined.

“Because almost all exposures in our study occurred in a residence, parent and child caregiver education should emphasize keeping recreational drugs out of the home, or at a minimum, stored up, away and out of sight and reach of children, preferably in a locked location,” said Hannah Hays, MD, co-author of the study and medical director of the Central Ohio Poison Center. “Adults should avoid using these products around young children, who naturally imitate adult behavior. Edible preparations of recreational drugs may be appealing to toddlers because they resemble candy or food, and they often contain multiple servings in one package.”

Prevention strategies for manufacturers and policy makers include requirements for opaque, child-resistant packaging with limits on the total dose contained in each serving and the number of servings per package, single-serving packaging, and appropriate labeling. Given the increase in legalization of cannabis and psilocybin for recreational and medical purposes, access to these products in the home by young children is likely to continue, underscoring the need for increased prevention efforts.

Data for this study were obtained from the National Poison Data System (NPDS), which is maintained by America’s Poison Centers. Poison centers receive phone calls through the national Poison Help Line (1-800-222-1222) and document information about the exposure, which is reported to the NPDS.

Reference:

1. Uskovich, Kristen, Hannah L. Hays, Jaahnavi Badeti, Natalie I. Rine, Nichole L. Michaels, Kele Ding, and Gary A. Smith. “Unintentional Ingestion of Recreational Drugs among Young Children, 2000–2024.” BMC Public Health 26 (2026): 2461. Accessed September 1, 2026. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-026-28233-z

(Newswise/MSM)