By Natalie Rahhal Deputy Health Editor For Dailymail.com
Published: 16:00 BST, 22 May 2019 | Updated: 16:00 BST, 22 May 2019
View
comments
Children whose parents have opioid prescriptions are at twice the risk of attempting suicide, a new study reveals.
High rates of youth suicides and opioid misuse at all ages are plaguing the US.
And access to lethal means is considered a top risk factor for suicide attempts and completions.
Though the term 'lethal means' is often used to refer to firearms in the house, the new study from the University of Chicago Medical Center goes to show that a prescription for potent drugs can pose a danger to children too.
Having their parents prescription opioids at home puts teenagers at twice the risk of attempting suicide, a new study reveals
In the last decade, the number of children and teenagers considering suicide has increased by 25 percent, and the rate of 15- to 19-year-olds committing suicide has climbed a steep 33 percent.
Families who have lost children to suicide and public health officials alike have made it clear that it's paramount for parents and teachers to do everything possible to minimize the risks that children will harm themselves, and instead get them help.
But the signs that someone is suicidal - especially in young people - can be elusive, to say the least.
The best parents can do in many cases, then, is to leave
