Suicide attempts and overdose cases are rising among young people across the country. However, what is the cause behind this rise? In a new study, researchers found a concerning link between late-night screen time and these cases. To find out the link, a research team from the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, led by Dr. Abhishek Reddy, a child and adolescent psychiatrist, is working to find better ways for families to protect their children before a crisis hits.The researchers talked to teenagers between 12 and 17 years old who had been hospitalized after intentionally overdosing. Their main goal was to find out the when, how, and why of these dangerous events so that parents, doctors, and schools can step in much sooner. They looked at three things together: the time of day the overdose happened, the teen's phone or screen use just before, and the type of medicine they took. How Does Late Night Screen Time Affect Children? American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry explains that on an average, children between the age of 8-18 in the US spend 7.5 hours watching or using screens, whether it is to entertain, teach or just to occupy themselves. The study found very clear patterns. Most overdoses happened late at night, often while the teens were on their phones or computers, or right after. The pills used were a mix of both prescription drugs and simple over-the-counter medicines. This shows that it's the easy access to pills, not just strong ones, that can lead to a suicide attempt. The researchers realized that late-night hours seem to be when young people feel the most emotional stress. When that feeling is mixed with instant access to social media and medicines readily available at home, the situation becomes very dangerous. Experts warn that even common pills we think are safe, like pain relievers or allergy medicines, can be deadly in an overdose. Knowing the time and method helps create practical prevention plans that families can actually use. This information backs up national data showing that suspected suicide attempts by poisoning among teens jumped by over 30% recently. Can Parents Prevent Overdosage In Children? Even though the findings are serious, they point to things every family can do right away. The researchers suggest three main ways to help prevent overdoses: Limit screens late at night. Help teens develop good sleep habits. Lock up all medicines—both prescription and over-the-counter. Simple changes can make a huge difference. Parents should set "digital curfews," perhaps by using apps to limit screen time or by making sure phones and tablets stay outside the bedroom after a set hour. Help kids create a relaxing bedtime routine, like reading a book, to help them sleep better. It is just as important to lock or safely store all medicines, count how many pills are left, and immediately throw away any old or unused pills. The researchers also stress that talking openly and honestly with your kids is key. Distress late at night, especially after arguments or seeing upsetting content online, can lead to impulsive actions. Checking in with your children about how they are feeling and what's happening in their online life can help defuse those risky moments. Dr. Reddy said this research gives everyone specific things they can change—things like screen time and medicine storage. This is very valuable because we can move from simply knowing there is a crisis to taking concrete steps to stop it. The team hopes these ideas will lead to new programs focused on digital safety, safe medicine habits, and support for teens in crisis who need help late at night. The main goal is to use this data to create simple, effective ways to prevent tragedies every day. Since suicide is a leading cause of death for children, and overdoses on easily found pills are common, helping parents focus on these safety measures could save young lives.
Email
Google
Facebook Email Google Facebook