Pattern of acute drug poisoning in Oslo

All 1742 admissions occasioned by acute drug poisoning to a medical ward in Oslo during the periods 1958--60, 1963--65, 1966--69 and 1970--73 have been reviewed. The number of admissions per annum in these periods was 99, 119, 128 and 144, respectively. Because the hospital situation and number of inhabitants in the city remained fairly constant from 1958 to 1973, the increasing figures were assumed to reflect a corresponding increase in the incidence of acute drug poisoning in Oslo. The incidence was estimated to be within the range of 1--2 per 1000 inhabitants per annum. No female predominance was noted except for the age group under 30 years. The occurrence of barbiturate poisonings decreased markedly during the peroids studied, whereas those due to non-barbiturate hypnotics, tranquillizers and tricyclic antidepressants showed a proportionate increase. Slightly less than one fourth of the females and half of the males had taken alcohol. More males (43%) than females (13%) also were alcoholics. A suicidal intention was, however, found more frequently among females (70%) than males (43%). The hospital mortality was approximately 1 %. No death was associated with tricyclic antidepressants, which in the last study period had been ingested by approximately 10% of all patients.