Opioid Epidemic
The opioid epidemic has had a dramatic effect on the health and wellbeing of both adults and children in the United States. Our researchers are committed to helping solve the problem through high quality research and a multidisciplinary approach. We are looking at how the crisis is affecting children, working with local agencies to reduce overdoses and establishing best practices to decrease opioid prescriptions. Some of our work is highlighted below.
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Since 2020 there has been a dramatic increase in the number of young children accidently ingesting fentanyl. The average age of child who accidentally ingests fentanyl is 2 years old. Researchers are working at the state and national level to address this issue and establish rapid diagnosis and response of children who are drug exposed.
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Dr. Laub has participated in multiple news conferences and media events highlighting the importance of advocacy at the community level to help drug exposed children.
Op Ed in San Diego Union Tribune
CNN article regarding Dr. Laub’s fentanyl research
SCRIPPS News investigative report on Fentanyl ingestions in children
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Drs. Huang and Laub lead the Opioid Task Force with the goal of reducing opioid prescriptions. Dr. Huang has successfully led hospital-wide clinical informatics interventions to reduce physician prescription of unnecessary opioids for pain management and won the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation Award.
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Drs. Huang and Kuelbs have published multiple peer reviewed articles highlighting key steps in reducing opioid prescriptions in the pediatric population.
Reducing opioid prescriptions in the pediatric Emergency Department
Reducing opioid prescriptions after pediatric surgery
Dr. Ignacio has contributed to multi-institutional quality improvement projects reducing opioid prescriptions after appendectomy surgery. His research can be found here.