[Morbidity and mortality from acute drug poisoning in France]

In France, drugs are responsible for 40% of accidental poisonings in children and 80% of voluntary poisonings in adults. The annual incidence voluntary drug poisonings is evaluated at 4 per 1000 individuals. Their morbidity and severity have decreased considerably during the past 25 years. A toxic symptom is found in less of 50% of the cases. The fraction of patients hospitalized for drug poisoning mortality is low (0.1%), principally in adult voluntary poisoning. The benzodiazepins are responsible for 80% of the poisonings but they are much less toxic than barbiturates. The development of preventive actions and pharmacologic and toxicologic vigilance allowed to limit use of the most dangerous psychotropic drugs or to remove them from the market.