Self-poisoning with paracetamol in England: short report of characteristics of individuals and their overdoses according to source of tablets.

ABSTRACT

Self-poisoning with paracetamol is the most frequently used overdose method in the UK. Psychosocial assessments were conducted by mental health clinicians with 127 consecutive individuals who presented with pure paracetamol overdoses to a large general hospital over 8 months, including asking about the source of the tablets and scoring the patients' acts on the Beck Suicide Intent scale (BSI). Patients were predominantly female (86%) and young (79% aged 12-24 years). Most had used paracetamol which was available in the home (77%). Those who purchased paracetamol for the act took double the number of tablets compared with those who used paracetamol available in the home (37 v. 18), had higher suicidal intent (mean BSI 11 v. 7) and more often required treatment with N-acetyl cysteine (71% v. 43%). These results highlight the need for safer home storage of paracetamol and consideration of reducing pack size limits on paracetamol that can be purchased.