title: Medications without a patient: potential lethal implications of pharmaceuticals left behind.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Little has been published on the sources of medications used in suicide by self-poisoning.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine data on self-poisoning occurring through the use of medications returned to the next of kin after the death of a family member or friend ("returned medication") and to examine public policies relevant to this issue.
  
  
  METHODS
  A review of charts at the Office of the Chief Coroner of Ontario for deaths by self-poisoning suicide in the City of Toronto occurring between 1998 and 2010 was conducted. Information regarding the source of medication used in self-poisoning was extracted. Federal, provincial, and local policies were also examined to determine whether there are guidelines governing returning medication to next of kin.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 567 suicide deaths by self-poisoning in Toronto over 13 years, there were eight cases in which returned medication was used in suicide by self-poisoning. No policies prohibiting this type of medication return were identified.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Suicide by self-poisoning using returned medications is an important consideration that may not yet be fully appreciated, and has relevance for suicide prevention policies.
authors.affiliation: <location>Department of Psychiatry, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Canada</location>
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Reis
authors.affiliation: <location>Department of Psychiatry, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Canada</location> <location>Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Canada</location>
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sinyor
authors.affiliation: <location>Department of Psychiatry, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Canada</location> <location>Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Canada</location>
authors.forename: Ayal
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schaffer
mesh_terms: D062787:Drug Overdose; D004335:Drug and Narcotic Control; D005190:Family; D006801:Humans; D009864:Ontario; D055553:Prescription Drugs; D011640:Public Policy; D013405:Suicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
chemical_list: D055553:Prescription Drugs
keywords: policy review; self-poisoning; suicide