Buprenorphine is a partial μ-opioid receptor agonist that is approved for the treatment of opioid dependency. It is generally believed to be safer than methadone because of its ceiling effect on respiratory depression. As more adults in US households use buprenorphine, an increasing number of children are being exposed. We report a fatal exposure to buprenorphine in a small child that occurred after ingestion of a caretaker's buprenorphine/naloxone. Postmortem toxicology analysis showed free serum concentrations of 52 ng/mL and 39 ng/mL for buprenorphine and norbuprenorphine, respectively. No other drugs were detected. Autopsy did not find signs of injury or trauma. The theoretical safety provided by the ceiling effect in respiratory depression from buprenorphine may not apply to children, and buprenorphine may cause dose-dependent respiratory depression.
Specific ICD-10 codes for MVC deaths depends on the level of detail provided by the ME in the "How Injury Occurred" and "If Transportation Injury Specify" death certificates sections. We have worked to ensure that key information is available to MEs in the brief PAR and educated MEs on the importance of this information to reduce the frequency of nonspecific codes and enhance injury prevention research.
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