Overview

• An analysis of NEMSIS data from 2019–2023 found year-over-year increases among 11–13-year-olds, from 257 calls in 2019 to 560 in 2023.
• For 14–18-year-olds, suspected opioid exposure calls climbed through 2022 (7,392) before falling in 2023 (6,960).
• Middle-school patients were predominantly female (61.1%), whereas females were a minority in the older group (40.6%).
• Younger patients more often presented in critical condition (24.5%) than older teens (15.7%), indicating higher acuity.
• The study reflects suspected exposures recorded by EMS rather than confirmed toxicology and was presented as an abstract at AAP 2025 with no external funding reported.