United Kingdom legislation on pack sizes of analgesics: background, rationale, and effects on suicide and deliberate self-harm.
Following increasing concern in the UK about the mortality and morbidity associated with self-poisoning with analgesics, especially paracetamol (Tylenol, acetaminophen), legislation was introduced in 1998 to modify packs sold over-the-counter. The most important change was a reduction in the maximum size of packs. In this paper the background to the legislation, the rationale behind it, and its early impact are reviewed. The changes have had significant positive initial benefits on the mortality and morbidity associated with self-poisoning with analgesics.
Hawton
Keith
K
Centre for Suicide Research, Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Warneford Hospital, United Kingdom.
D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000506:poisoning; D062787:Drug Overdose / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004349:Drug Packaging / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D013405:Suicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006113:United Kingdom; D000092864:Suicide Prevention
D000700:Analgesics; D000082:Acetaminophen