Nearly 100 Australian children end up in emergency departments each day due to medicine-related harm—and half of these cases could have been avoided. That’s the sobering finding from a new national report released by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia in partnership with the University of South Australia.
The data paints a worrying picture of how medicines, particularly common ones like paracetamol and antidepressants, are increasingly involved in adverse reactions, overdoses and poisonings among children and teenagers. While medications are designed to heal, the latest evidence shows they are, in many cases, doing the opposite.
The PSA’s 2025 Medicine Safety report focuses on young Australians and confirms that unsafe off-label use, accidental overdoses, and drug interactions are behind many of these incidents. Crucially, many of the harms were preventable.
Each day, about 93 children present at hospital with a medicine-related problem. Around 40 are admitted for further care. The vast majority of incidents involve either very young children under the age of four or teenagers, with younger boys more commonly affected under 10 and adolescent girls over-represented in teenage cases.
UniSA’s lead researcher, Dr Imaina Widagdo, says that while children’s medicine use is widespread and often necessary, it comes with real risks that need closer attention.
“Children have developing bodies that react differently to medicines. Unlike adults, the doses and effects aren’t always well studied or fully understood in paediatric patients,” she said.
“Medicines are meant to help—and they usually do—but without proper prescribing and careful monitoring, we’re seeing far too many preventable hospital visits.”
Accidental poisonings make up a troubling portion of the statistics. Every day, seven children present to hospital due to medicine-related poisoning, with three of them requiring admission. These cases are often linked to everyday household medicines, not exotic or experimental drugs. Paracetamol—the staple of many family medicine cabinets—was found to be the most common source of overdose.
In 2022–23, over 7,300 children aged between 0 and 19 were admitted to hospital due to medicine poisoning. That figure translates to about 20 kids per day. The issue doesn’t stop at the hospital doors, either—the cost to the healthcare system is estimated at more than $130 million a year. Of this, emergency presentations alone account for around $30 million, while direct costs of poisonings themselves are estimated at $40 million.
The findings come as Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration issued safety warnings this month over incorrect Risperidone dosing, after several children were hospitalised when given more than the prescribed amount. It’s another example of what can happen when gaps exist in prescribing, storage or understanding of the medicines children are taking.
Dr Widagdo stresses the need for a comprehensive approach to reduce the risks.
“There are simple but powerful steps that can make a real difference. Proper storage, accurate dosing, and better awareness in homes, schools, and childcare settings are vital,” she said.
“Parents and carers should also be encouraged to report adverse reactions. These reports help regulators and researchers improve the safety profile of commonly used medicines.”
According to the latest National Health Survey, most children and teens have had at least one medicine dispensed on the PBS in the past six months. Around 184,000 have had between five and nine prescriptions filled, and about 11,500 kids were prescribed ten or more. These numbers highlight how embedded medicines are in the daily lives of Australian families.
The study doesn’t point fingers—it calls for education. Dr Widagdo and her team aren’t arguing against the use of medicines but urging everyone involved, from doctors to families, to take greater care.
“Many medicines are never trialled extensively on children, which means dosing and side effects are not always predictable,” she said. “We need to improve how we approach paediatric prescribing and how we talk about medicine use in the home.”
The issue also extends to packaging and access. Child-resistant lids may deter toddlers, but they are not foolproof. Many poisonings occur when a curious child accesses medications left within reach, sometimes mistaking them for lollies.
The pattern of harm among teenagers raises different concerns—particularly around antidepressants. While these medications can be life-saving when used appropriately, their misuse or overuse can lead to severe consequences, especially without close supervision.
Experts agree that a multi-pronged approach is needed. Better communication between health professionals, clearer labelling, child-specific formulations, and support for families trying to navigate complex medication routines would all help reduce risks.
There are wider questions here too—about the prescribing culture, the lack of paediatric data in clinical trials, and the growing reliance on pharmaceuticals to manage long-term conditions in children. But for now, the message is direct: education, vigilance, and communication can save lives.
The PSA report is a call to action for policymakers, healthcare professionals and families alike. While Australia’s healthcare system prides itself on safety and efficacy, the figures show that avoidable harm is still happening—and on a large scale.
When medicine meant to soothe ends up sending a child to hospital, something has gone wrong. And when that outcome could have been avoided, it becomes a shared responsibility.
If you suspect an overdose, medication error, or poisoning, call 000 immediately if it’s an emergency or contact the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 for urgent advice.
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