title: Trends in self-poisoning with drugs in Newcastle, New South Wales, 1980-1982.
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.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hardwicke
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Holt
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: James
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D001463:Barbiturates; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D000082:Acetaminophen