Citation

Hardwicke C, Holt L, James R, Smith AJ. Med. J. Aust. 1986; 144(9): 453-454.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1986, Australian Medical Association, Publisher Australasian Medical Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

2871481

Abstract

A review has been carried out of 747 cases of self-poisoning with drugs which were treated in the three major Newcastle hospitals over the three-year period 1980-1982. The data obtained have been compared with earlier published data for the years 1976-1979. The number of patients who were admitted to hospital fell from 290 in 1980 to 226 in 1982. The most common drugs used were benzodiazepine (34.5% of cases) and antidepressant agents (9.1%), paracetamol (7.9%), barbiturates (7.1%) and phenothiazines (3.8%). Although this indicated a gratifying drop in the use of barbiturate drugs, the use of several drugs in combination in self-poisoning rose disturbingly. Five patients died in hospital; 23 who committed suicide with drugs were not admitted to hospital but were investigated by the Regional Forensic Pathologist.

Language: en