Self-poisoning with drugs: a 3 1/2-year study in Newcastle, NSW

This is a review of 963 cases of self-poisoning with drugs (8.5% of all medical emergencies) treated in the three major Newcastle hospitals over a 3 1/2-year period. The number of patients admitted rose from 243 (July 1976 to June 1977) to 326 (January to December, 1979)-an overall increase of 34%. The most common drugs used were benzodiazepines (34.9% of cases); barbiturates (11.2%); tricyclic depressants (9.2%); paracetamol (8.1%) and phenothiazines (6.2%). In four of 134 cases involving barbiturates, phenobarbitone had been used as part of an anticonvulsant regimen. Six patients died in hospital and 31 who committed suicide with drugs were not admitted to the hospital, but were investigated by the Regional Forensic Pathologist.