[Deaths due to poisoning in Denmark in 1983-1987]

Deaths due to poisoning in Denmark during the five-year period 1983-1987 are described on the basis of the information from the register of causes of deaths in the Danish Institute of Clinical Epidemiology. The average annual number of deaths due to poisoning was 935.63% of these were suicides, 21% accidents, less than 1% manslaughter and in 16% of the cases the manner of death had not been established. 68% were due to medicaments, nearly half of these unspecified, 25% were due to carbon monoxide, 5% to alcohol, and 2% to other causes. The value of this account is restricted by the fact that not all of these deaths were submitted to medico-legal investigation, and that there were technical limitations in the classification and coding of causes and manners of death. In this connection, it is emphasized that almost one third of the deaths due to poisoning were caused by an unknown medicament. Differences in manners and causes of death are noted by comparing the results of this account to the material from the institutes of forensic medicine concerning chemically investigated deaths due to poisoning. This account applies to the prophylaxis of deaths due to poisoning, with special reference to medical drugs in general, carbon monoxide, alcohol, alcohol in combination with medicaments or narcotics, and over-the-counter analgesics containing acetylsalicylic acid. It is concluded that a more carefully examined representative material is required.