FRANKFORT, Ky. — State lawmakers heard alarming trends Monday about child deaths and serious injuries in Kentucky, with members of the Interim Joint Committee on Families and Children reviewing a report showing a surge in preventable overdoses and abuse cases among the state's youngest residents.

The state's Child Fatality and Near Fatality Review Panel examined 72 child fatalities and 176 near fatal cases in fiscal year 2024, revealing that overdose ingestion cases have increased 104% over the past five years. Panel member and physician Dr. Melissa Currie told lawmakers that children under 4 face the highest risk for accidental ingestion compared to all other age groups.

Cannabinoids, fentanyl and methamphetamines are the top three substances children have been ingesting in Kentucky, with fentanyl causing the most fatalities. Currie highlighted a case in which a child ingested a THC dab pen wax and was left with neurological deficits in intensive care, and another where a child with cannabinoid exposure at birth later died of a fentanyl overdose.

The panel issued 21 recommendations to address the crisis, including requiring cannabinoid products to be sold in child-resistant packaging with warning labels and launching an aggressive public health campaign. The panel also recommended medication lock boxes be made readily available and free to families with young children through medical providers and community resources.

Beyond ingestion cases, the panel found a 31% increase in physical abuse cases, with more than half involving abusive head trauma, formerly known as shaken baby syndrome. Medically fragile children emerged as particularly vulnerable, with the panel finding 43 cases of medically fragile children in which neglect was the most common factor.

Rep. Tina Bojanowski, D-Louisville, noted that medically complex children in Kentucky have become victims of sexual abuse, human trafficking, torture and physical abuse. She asked what legislative action would be needed to establish a statewide registry for such vulnerable children. Steve Shannon, executive director of the Kentucky Association of Regional Programs, Inc., said creating a registry would be "challenging, but worthwhile," and that a tight definition of who qualifies would be essential.

The committee will meet again on Aug. 19 at 1 p.m. More information is available at legislature.ky.gov.