Trends in fatal poisonings in Leeds, 1977 to 1987

The records of all deaths due to poisoning investigated by the Leeds University Department of Forensic Medicine, over an eleven-year period between 1977 and 1987, were studied. There were 422 cases consisting of 208 males and 214 females. Two of these cases were homicidal in nature (both were unconnected cases of children poisoned with amitriptyline). Only 12 were accidental and the rest either suicidal or para-suicidal. More than 20% of cases had recorded blood ethanol levels greater than the legal driving limit of 80 mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood. The results show a steady decrease in the number of deaths from poisoning over this period, due mainly to falls in self-poisonings from barbiturates and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Curiously, the number of carbon monoxide poisonings was the same in 1987 as 1977. Some interesting trends and sex variations have also been highlighted.