Center for Injury Research & Policy News

May 07, 2025

Study Finds Teens Driving Older Vehicles Have Increased Risk for Fatal Crashes

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens. Newer vehicles and driver assistance technologies show promise in reducing crashes and injury severities. Researchers at Nationwide Children’s Hospital reviewed national fatal crash data (2016-2021) and examined the vehicle age and driver assistance technologies of vehicles driven by teen and middle-aged drivers, and their associations with driver deaths during fatal crashes.

Mar 04, 2025

Study Finds Youth with Concussion May Benefit from Monitoring Sleep and Limiting Daytime Naps

Researchers at Nationwide Children’s Hospital have found that when it comes to concussion recovery, sleep matters. In a study published today in British Journal of Sports Medicine, researchers found that limiting daytime sleep and getting approximately seven hours of sleep each night in the first week after a concussion may speed up recovery.

Feb 03, 2025

Study Shows Increase in Calls to Poison Centers for Child and Adolescent Exposures to Caffeine Energy Products, Including 633% Increase in Powdered Caffeine Exposures

A new study examining calls to United States poison centers for exposures to caffeine energy products in people younger than 20 years, conducted by researchers at the Center for Injury Research and Policy of the Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and the Central Ohio Poison Center, shows a significant rise in exposure rates from 2011 through 2023, with variations by product formulation.

Nov 14, 2024

New Study Highlights Urgent Need for Targeted Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Support for Sexual and Gender Diverse Youth

Researchers from the Center for Injury Research and Policy of the Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital analyzed six years of multistate child death review data from the United States and found that 81% of sexual and gender diverse youth in the dataset died by suicide, despite many receiving current or prior mental health services.

Sep 09, 2024

Study Finds Increase in Exposures to Delta-8 THC Among Young Children, Teens, and Adults, Especially in Southern U.S.

A new study examining trends in calls to poison centers across the country for exposures to delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), conducted by researchers at the Center for Injury Research and Policy of the Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and the Central Ohio Poison Center, shows a sharp rise in exposures, including among children, and variation among states and regions

Aug 13, 2024

Study Finds Emergency Department Visits by Children Associated with Water Beads More Than Doubled from 2021 to 2022

Researchers from the Center for Injury Research and Policy and Central Ohio Poison Center at Nationwide Children’s Hospital have found more than an estimated 8,000 visits to U.S. emergency departments (EDs) associated with water beads from 2007 through 2022, and the number of these visits increased rapidly by more than 130% from 2021 to 2022.

May 07, 2024

New Study Finds Increase in Exposures to Synthetic Tetrahydrocannabinols Among Young Children, Teens, and Adults

A sharp rise in exposures to synthetic cannabis products among youth — some leading to hospitalization — highlights the need for increased education around the dangers of exposure and increased focus on safe storage and packaging, according to pediatricians and researchers at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and the Central Ohio Poison Center.

Apr 17, 2024

Study: Youth Prescription Opioid Overdoses Increased During Early Stages of COVID-19 Pandemic

New research from experts at Nationwide Children’s Hospital shows a spike in emergency department visits among youth for prescription opioid overdoses during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the need for increased prevention efforts for children and teens.

Feb 12, 2024

Study Finds Adolescents with Concussion May Benefit from More Activity Earlier

Researchers at Nationwide Children’s Hospital have found that when it comes to concussion recovery, activity type matters. In a study published today in British Journal of Sports Medicine, researchers found that limiting screen time and returning to school early following a concussion may speed up recovery.

Jan 22, 2024

New Study Finds Liquid Laundry Detergent Packet Exposure Burden among Young Children Remains; Increase in Exposures among Older Children, Teens, and Adults

A new study conducted by researchers at the Center for Injury Research and Policy of the Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and the Central Ohio Poison Center investigated trends in calls to poison centers across the country for exposures to liquid laundry detergent packets. The study investigators identified declines in the number, rate and severity of liquid laundry detergent packet exposures among children younger than 6 years. However, the exposure burden remained high. Additionally, exposures have increased among older children, teens and adults.