Does the availability of prescribed drugs affect rates of self poisoning?

摘要

The trends in self-poisoning rates and in rates of prescribing of the major drug groups were compared. Over the period 1981-91, barbiturate prescribing and self poisoning both fell by 80; for antidepressants, prescribing increased by over 40 and self poisoning by 30; for antipsychotics, both rose by 30; for benzodiazepines, poisoning fell by 30 and prescribing by 20. Even for analgesic drugs, which are also available over the counter, there was a correspondence between changes in self poisoning and prescribing. The availability of prescribed drugs is directly related to their use for self poisoning. Restricting the availability of these drugs is a possible preventative strategy, although further research on this is needed.