1. Does the availability of prescribed drugs affect rates of self poisoning?
- Author
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Crombie, I. K. and Philip McLoone
- Subjects
Adult ,Male ,Adolescent ,Pharmaceutical Preparations ,Scotland ,Humans ,Female ,Drug Overdose ,Middle Aged ,Drug Prescriptions ,Research Article ,Aged - Abstract
The trends in self-poisoning rates and in rates of prescribing of the major drug groups were compared. Over the period 1981-91, barbiturate prescribing and self poisoning both fell by 80%; for antidepressants, prescribing increased by over 40% and self poisoning by 30%; for antipsychotics, both rose by 30%; for benzodiazepines, poisoning fell by 30% and prescribing by 20%. Even for analgesic drugs, which are also available over the counter, there was a correspondence between changes in self poisoning and prescribing. The availability of prescribed drugs is directly related to their use for self poisoning. Restricting the availability of these drugs is a possible preventative strategy, although further research on this is needed.