Study sheds light on overdose suicide attempts among youth and what families can do

As suicide and overdose attempts among young people rise nationwide, a team from the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine is uncovering insights that could help families protect children before a crisis occurs.

Led by Abhishek Reddy, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral medicine at the medical school and a Carilion Clinic physician in child and adolescent psychiatry, the research team surveyed adolescents ages 12 to 17 who were admitted after intentional overdose suicide attempts. The goal: identify the when, how, and why behind these life-threatening events and help parents, clinicians, and schools intervene earlier.

“Ultimately, we are trying to prevent childhood suicide,” Reddy said. “By helping parents and health care providers understand the factors that impact kids’ decisions to harm themselves, we can take steps to reduce the number of these young lives being tragically cut short.”

The study, which will be presented at this week’s American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry conference in Chicago, looked at three factors that have not been studied in combination: the time of day the overdose occurred, the adolescent’s screen use beforehand, and the types of medications used.

Late nights, screens, and access

The patterns were striking. Most overdoses occurred late at night, often during or after screen use. Researchers found that both prescription and over-the-counter medications were commonly involved, underscoring how easy access to pills, not just prescription drugs, can contribute to suicide attempts.

“Anecdotally, we were seeing a lot of these overdose attempts occurring overnight,” said Timothy Ferrebee, a Carilion Clinic-School of Medicine child and adolescent psychiatry fellow. “There has been a good deal of research on time of day for suicide attempts, but it mostly is related to adults. We felt that it was important to study adolescents and teenagers.”

The team’s analysis showed that late-night hours appear to be a period of heightened emotional vulnerability for young people. Combined with the immediacy of social media and the availability of medications at home, that window can become dangerous.

“Even medications we think of as safe, like over-the-counter pain relievers or allergy pills, can be harmful in overdose,” Reddy said. “Understanding when and how these events happen helps us shape prevention strategies that families with struggling adolescents can incorporate.”

The study’s findings align with recent national data showing that suspected suicide attempts by poisoning among adolescents increased more than 30 percent between 2019-21, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In children as young as 10 to 12, the increase was even sharper.

What families can do

While the findings are sobering, they point to actionable steps families can take immediately.

Reddy and Ferrebee emphasize three key prevention strategies: setting limits on screen use at night, developing good sleep hygiene routines, and securing all medications, prescription and over-the-counter alike.

Simple measures can make a meaningful difference. Families are encouraged to establish “digital curfews” for children and teens, using apps that offer parental controls or storing phones and tablets outside bedrooms after a set time. Parents should help children develop a bedtime routine that will help them unwind and get a good night’s sleep. Reading a book or taking a warm bath are examples. Equally important is locking or safely storing medicines, monitoring quantities, and promptly disposing of expired or leftover medications.

“Social media has become more prevalent and phone use is ever increasing at younger ages. We need to be aware that access to technology such as the internet and social media overnight, or for unlimited periods with minimal monitoring, does increase the risk for self-harm,” Ferrebee said. “It is something that we want to counsel parents on. They should make sure there are screen limitations and have honest and open discussions with their kids about their use.”

Open communication is essential. Researchers said late-night distress, particularly after social media conflicts or exposure to harmful content, can escalate impulsive behavior. Checking in with children about their emotional state and online interactions can help defuse those moments.

Building prevention into daily life

Beyond the home, the research carries implications for clinicians, schools, and community organizations. Pediatricians and mental health professionals can incorporate questions about screen habits and medication access into routine visits or risk assessments. Schools can reinforce those conversations by promoting awareness of digital well-being and safe medication practices.

“This research gives us specific, modifiable risk factors. These are things families and clinicians can change,” Reddy said. “That’s what makes it so valuable. We’re moving from recognizing a crisis to identifying concrete steps to prevent it.”

The team hopes these insights will also guide the development of evidence-based prevention programs, potentially involving education on digital health, medication safety, and after-hours support for teens in crisis.

Next steps in the research

Reddy and his team plan to expand their research by reviewing more data in future and to explore interventions that address screen habits and medication storage that can influence overdose risk.

The ultimate goal, Reddy said, is to translate data into action — building simple, effective prevention strategies that work in everyday family life.

“Suicide ranks as the second leading cause of death for children ages 10 to 14 in the U.S. Easy access to medications makes overdose a frequent method of self-harm in this age group,” Reddy said. “We hope to make a real difference by helping parents focus on measures that can prevent future tragedies.”