Number of 6- to 12-year-olds Using Common Medication for Suicide and Self-Harm Surges 311 Percent: Study

Some of the substances used include pain relief medication, antihistamines, cough and cold preparations, and vitamins.

Oxycodine pain medications sit on a table outside of Los Angeles, on June 4, 2025. John Fredricks/The Epoch Times

There has been a surge in children between the ages of 6 and 12 getting exposed to medications, dietary supplements, and psychoactive substances in homes and using them for self-harm or suicide, according to a Sept. 8 study published online in the journal Pediatrics.

Suicide is the second leading cause of death among children aged 10 to 14, according to data from the National Institute of Mental Health; the leading cause is unintentional injury.