Unintentional Poisoning Deaths in U.S. Infants, Children, and Adolescents

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In 2020, unintentional poisoning was the second leading cause of unintentional injury deaths for children and adolescents ages 1-19. Drug poisoning was related to 73% of the unintentional poisoning deaths in children ages 0-9, and 96% of the unintentional poisoning deaths in adolescents ages 10-19. This fact sheet was developed by the Children’s Safety Network to show unintentional poisoning deaths in U.S. children and adolescents between 2016 and 2020 and identify disparities across age group, sex, urbanicity, and race/ethnicity. We also provide individual-level and system-level poisoning prevention recommendations that can help states and jurisdictions prevent and reduce poisoning deaths.