CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The opioid epidemic is hitting a secondary group of victims, children.           

The Centers for Disease Control released a study earlier this week showing the number of children admitted to hospitals for opioid overdose has nearly doubled since 2004.           

Researchers believe many of these cases were likely caused by the child finding the prescription drug at home. Director of the Carolinas Poison Center Anna Dulaney says the numbers haven't changed much but the drugs have.

“The problem with that age group is these are very potent drugs,” she says.

In 2015, the Carolinas Poison Center received about 700 calls of pediatric opioid overdoses and about half of those were teenagers who most likely intentionally took the drugs.

 

Get the latest news, sports and weather delivered straight to your inbox. Click here to sign up for email and text alerts.