The rise in youth substance misuse has reached crisis levels, positioning drug overdose as the third leading cause of death among adolescents in the U.S. In 2022, approximately 3.6 million young Americans aged 12 to 17 used illicit drugs, according to the National Institutes of Health. The primary driver of this surge is the increasing availability of opioids, stimulants, and other addictive substances, with fentanyl and synthetic opioids significantly raising overdose fatality rates.
The Role of Children’s National Hospital in Youth Substance Misuse Prevention
Children’s National Hospital, a leader in pediatric healthcare, is addressing this urgent public health crisis through targeted initiatives. Via the Alliance for Pediatric Device Innovation (APDI), Children’s National is backing groundbreaking technologies designed to counter youth substance misuse. These solutions focus on early intervention and rapid response, arming adolescents and their families with tools to prevent and manage overdose risks.
The Need for Innovative Solutions
Traditional treatment methods alone are insufficient in tackling the complexities of youth substance misuse. Innovations that enable real-time monitoring, diagnosis, and intervention are reshaping the landscape of overdose prevention. Pediatric-focused devices designed to detect early warning signs can prevent severe outcomes, such as respiratory failure, during overdoses.
To fuel these life-saving advancements, Children’s National, through APDI, awarded $200,000 in grants to four pioneering companies. Each received $50,000 to further develop technologies aimed at early intervention, monitoring, and treatment. Along with grant funding, APDI is providing awardees with support services across all phases of the medical device product lifecycle, including facilitating access to NIDA technical assistance.
Four Technologies Paving the Way
1. AltruMed’s DOVE Device (Philadelphia, PA)
The rising number of adolescents presenting with opioid overdoses in emergency rooms highlights a critical gap in timely diagnosis and care, particularly when young patients arrive alone. AltruMed’s DOVE device addresses this need with a small, shoulder-mounted sensor that detects severe respiratory depression and hypoxia—key indicators of overdose. Using multi-modal sensing, the DOVE device alerts bystanders and first responders, allowing them to initiate potentially life-saving actions.
David Gordon, Co-Founder of AltruMed, LLC, explains “We envision DOVE to act as a harm-reduction tool that enables faster recognition of emergent overdose and bridges toward treatment for adolescents who use opioids.”
“With ADPI’s funding, we hope to accelerate bringing DOVE to market approval in adolescents, providing an additional tool to recognize emergent respiratory depression in opioid overdose and initiate care.”
2. Levl’s Remote Therapeutic Monitoring Platform (Brooklyn, NY)
In 2022, approximately 11.4% of U.S. children aged 3–17 were diagnosed with ADHD, and diagnosis rates continue to rise. ADHD is commonly treated with stimulant medications, which carry a risk of misuse.
Levl is addressing the risk of stimulant medication misuse among adolescents with ADHD through a specialized remote therapeutic monitoring platform. The platform provides real-time insights into mood, sleep patterns, medication adherence, and other behavioral indicators. By enabling clinicians to monitor these trends, Levl helps detect early signs of medication misuse or diversion, allowing for timely interventions and adjustments to treatment plans.
“Our mission at Levl is to empower adolescents with ADHD to manage their condition safely while mitigating risks associated with stimulant medications,” says Artin Perse, Co-Founder & CEO, Levl.
“The funding from APDI and Children’s National Hospital is pivotal in accelerating our platform’s development. It allows us to enhance our technology and extend our reach, contributing to improved adolescent health and prevention of substance use disorders.”
Perse further explains the company’s approach, stating, “We’re creating a comprehensive approach to prevent substance use disorders before they start. We do this by offering clinicians actionable data while fostering open communication between patients, families, and healthcare providers.”
3. Sibel Health’s ANNE Platform (Chicago, IL)
Respiratory depression, a critical factor in overdose deaths, often results from drug misuse. Sibel Health’s FDA-cleared ANNE platform uses advanced wearable sensors and AI to monitor respiratory function in high-risk adolescents. The platform tracks key metrics—such as heart rate, respiratory rate, temperature, body position, and activity—along with other vital indicators, transmitting real-time data to enable rapid response to respiratory issues.
“This funding will support the expansion of the ANNE platform’s capabilities to detect respiratory depression in high-risk adolescents, leveraging its precise respiratory rate monitoring,” says Jong Yoon Lee, Chief Technology Officer at Sibel Health.
“It’s always an honor and a source of motivation to address such challenging issues and advance care for this vulnerable population,” Lee adds.
4. Toivoa’s Digital Therapeutic Platform (Washington, D.C.)
With 60% of adolescents in substance use treatment also meeting the criteria for another mental health disorder, the risk of co-occurring mental health issues like depression is high. Toivoa’s digital therapeutic platform offers tailored support for adolescents facing both substance use and mental health challenges. The platform, named Rauha, leverages a dual mental health treatment with cognitive behavioral therapy and board-certified mental health coaches. Rauha equips young people and their caregivers with personalized mental health resources and coping strategies to foster resilience.
Laura Randa, CEO and Chair at Toivoa, Inc., highlights the importance of the funding, saying, “This funding means that our development initiatives can focus on creating comprehensive programs that build on Rauha’s successes,”
Randa continues, “By integrating these principles, we can enhance our offerings, ensuring that we continue to support teens in their growth and development, ultimately contributing to a more resilient generation.”
The Path Ahead: Advancing Youth-Focused Solutions with Children’s National
Through its support for these four technologies, Children’s National is paving the way for transformative solutions in youth substance misuse detection and treatment. APDI’s partnership underlines the hospital’s commitment to pioneering pediatric healthcare advancements, showcasing its dedication to safe, effective intervention methods. Together with innovative technology developers, Children’s National is focused on bringing life-saving solutions to the battle against the youth overdose epidemic, providing new hope for prevention and recovery.
