Study of direct costs of children hospitalized with opium poisoning: a case study of Iran.

Introduction: Opioid poisoning in children under 12 years of age is a serious health problem in Iran that can lead to mortality and increase the economic burden on the health system. Given the increasing access of children to opioids, a more accurate understanding of the economic dimensions of these poisonings is necessary to develop effective strategies to prevent the costs imposed on families and the health sector.

Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 45 children hospitalized with opioid poisoning in Motahari Hospital, Urmia during 2022. Demographic information of children and parents, type of substance consumed, type of health insurance, length of hospitalization, and direct medical costs were collected and analyzed using SPSS version 27 software.

Results: The mean age of the children was 5.08 ± 1.96 years, and 57.8% of them were boys. The most commonly used substance was methadone (40%). A total of 62.2% of the parents had less than a diploma, 17.8% had a history of addiction, and 6.7% of the children died due to poisoning. The estimated economic burden of pediatric opioid poisoning in Iran was $318,306 in 2022.

Conclusion: Opioid poisonings in young children occurred more frequently in boys, with methadone identified as the most common cause of poisoning. Low parental education levels and a history of addiction in the family were the main risk factors. Increasing parental awareness, controlling access to opioids, and strengthening support services can be effective in reducing poisoning cases and preventing unnecessary costs.