Trends in self-poisoning with drugs in Newcastle, New South Wales, 1980-1982.
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.
Hardwicke
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D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000506:poisoning; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000506:poisoning; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000506:poisoning; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000506:poisoning; D001315:Australia; D001463:Barbiturates / Q000506:poisoning; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D005260:Female; D005554:Forensic Medicine; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D011041:Poisoning / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D012621:Seasons; D013405:Suicide / Q000453:epidemiology*
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D001463:Barbiturates; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D000082:Acetaminophen