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This study investigates characteristics of suspected suicides and nonfatal suicide attempts involving antidepressants among individuals 13 years and older reported to US poison control centers from 2000-2020.Data from the National Poison Data System were retrospectively analyzed.There were 744,853 suspected suicides and nonfatal suicide attempts among individuals 13 years and older involving antidepressants as the first-ranked substance during the study period. Teenagers accounted for 28.6% of cases and females represented 68.7% of cases. From 2000-2019, the rate of calls received by US poison control centers for suspected suicides and nonfatal suicide attempts involving antidepressants per 100,000 US population 13 years and older increased from 17.4 to 28.4 (The increase in the rate of suspected suicides and nonfatal suicide attempts involving antidepressants reported to US poison control centers, particularly among teenagers, emphasizes the need for increased prevention efforts. The greater severity of medical outcomes among older adults also warrants attention.

PURPOSE To study cosmetics and personal care products-related ocular exposures in the United States. METHODS A retrospective analysis of cosmetics and personal care products-related ocular exposures from 2000 through 2018 was conducted using data from the National Poison Data System. RESULTS From January 2000 through December 2018, United States Poison Control Centers received 266,743 calls concerning eye exposures to cosmetics and personal care products, corresponding to a mean of 14,039 calls per year. Young children (

This study investigates characteristics and trends of antidepressant exposures among children6 years old related to exploratory behavior reported to US poison control centers.Using data from the National Poison Data System for 2000-2020, population-based annual exposure rates by sex, antidepressant category, serious medical outcome, and health care facility admission were analyzed and odds ratios to assess associations of exposure type and antidepressant category with medical outcome and admission were calculated.There were 215 909 first-ranked unintentional exploratory exposures involving antidepressants among children6 years old during the study period, averaging 10 281 annually. Most cases were 3 years old (77.8%), involved a single substance (86.9%), and did not receive treatment at a health care facility (57.6%); however, 7.9% were admitted and 3.4% had serious medical outcomes, including 13 deaths. SSRIs were involved in 56.9% of all cases. Compared with SSRIs, bupropion (OR: 5.22, 95% CI: 4.68-5.82), TCAs (OR: 3.74, 95% CI: 3.44-4.07), SNRIs (OR: 2.39, 95% CI: 2.11-2.71), and lithium salts (OR: 2.00, 95% CI: 1.63-2.46) were more likely to be associated with a serious medical outcome. TCAs were the first-ranked substance in 7 of the 13 deaths.Although most unintentional antidepressant exposures related to pediatric exploratory behavior were inconsequential, an important minority of cases required admission to a HCF or had a serious medical outcome, including 13 deaths. Therefore, increased efforts to prevent these exposures among young children are needed, including public education and improved medication packaging.

To investigate characteristics and trends of methamphetamine exposures reported to United States (US) poison control centers.Data from the National Poison Data System were analyzed.From January 1, 2000 through December 31, 2019, US poison control centers managed 54,199 cases involving methamphetamine as the first-ranked substance. Adults 20-39 years old accounted for more than half (56.3%) of cases. There were 1,291 deaths, of which 43.0% involved multiple-substance exposures. Among multiple-substance exposures in which methamphetamine was the first-ranked substance, stimulants and street drugs (excluding methamphetamine) were most commonly also present (22.7%), followed by opioids (19.0%). The substance class associated with the most fatalities was opioids (The rate of exposure to methamphetamine in the US declined initially following passage of the Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act of 2005. However, since 2007, the rate and severity of exposures to methamphetamine have increased, primarily driven by individuals 20 years or older. Increased prevention efforts are needed, including prevention of methamphetamine initiation among adolescents and young adults, improved access to effective treatment for co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders, and prevention of unintentional exposures among children.

Benzodiazepines, often used to treat anxiety, insomnia, and other conditions, are prescribed more frequently to women than men, and emergency department visits and overdose deaths involving benzodiazepines have increased significantly among women in recent years. This study describes characteristics and trends associated with benzodiazepine exposures among women of reproductive age (15–49 years old) that were reported to United States poison control centers from 2004 through 2018. The National Poison Data System recorded 258,370 first-ranked benzodiazepine exposures among women 15–49 years old during the study period. More than one-half (56.9%) of exposures involved a single-substance and one-third (34.0%) occurred among women 20–29 years old. The majority were categorized as “intentional, suspected suicide” (73.2%) or “intentional” (12.9%). Exposures frequently resulted in admission to a psychiatric facility (20.6%), critical care unit (18.1%), or non-critical care unit (9.3%). Twenty percent of cases resulted in a serious medical outcome, including 205 deaths. The substantial percentage of benzodiazepine exposures among women of reproductive age that were intentional and associated with suicide attempts or suicide deaths indicate that increased prevention efforts are needed to address this issue.

Statement of purpose To investigate characteristics and trends of methamphetamine exposures reported to United States (US) poison control centers. Methods/Approach Data from the National Poison Data System were analyzed to investigate exposures to methamphetamine. Results From January 1, 2000 through December 31, 2019, US poison control centers managed 54,199 cases involving methamphetamine as the first-ranked substance. Adults 20–39 years old accounted for more than half (56.3%) of all cases. There were 1,291 deaths, of which 43.0% involved multiple-substance exposures. Among multiple-substance exposures in which methamphetamine was the first-ranked substance, stimulants and street drugs (excluding methamphetamine) were most commonly present (22.7%), followed by opioids (19.0%). The substance class associated with the most fatalities was opioids (n=243, 26.6%). The rate of methamphetamine exposures per 100,000 US population increased by 79.5% from 2000–2005, then decreased by 68.0% from 2005–2007, followed by an increase of 614.6% from 2007–2019. From 2007–2019, the rate significantly increased among all age groups, except among 6–12-year-olds, and in all US regions. The rates of single- substance and multiple-substance exposures increased significantly from 2007–2019 by 456.7% (p Conclusions The rate of exposure to methamphetamine in the US declined initially following passage of the Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act of 2005. However, since 2007, the rate and severity of methamphetamine exposures in the US have increased. Significance This is the first study to analyze methamphetamine exposures among all age groups over an extensive time period in the US. The findings from this study can help inform future prevention, monitoring, and research efforts.