Intentional suspected suicide exposures by poisoning among adolescents from 2009 to 2018 reported to the Georgia Poison Center and compared nationally

Abstract

This retrospective chart review aimed to report the incidence and characteristics of intentional suspected suicide among 13‐ to 19‐year‐olds reported to the Georgia Poison Center (GPC) and compared nationally from 2009 to 2018. Of the 19 733 cases reported to the GPC, 74.9% were females. The total number of cases more than doubled from 2009 to 2018, increasing annually by 10%. Majority (90.1%) of the cases occurred in the home, and 60.4% of the cases resulted in either no effect or minor effect. More than half (66.5%) of the cases involved only one substance. Pharmaceuticals made up 94.5% of the substances used, with analgesics accounting for 42.10% and antidepressants at 20.77%. A significant difference was found in substances used between males and females (P < .001). Females were more likely to use analgesics (45.17% vs 32.90%), and males were more likely to use sedatives/hypnotics/antipsychotics (20.45% vs 13.58%). While the majority of the GPC patients were females, the GPC was more likely to have fewer female patients (74.7% vs 75.7%) and more male patients (25.3% vs 24.3%) than other poison centers. Intentional suspected suicide exposures by poisoning are on the rise and higher among females, demonstrating a need for strengthened intervention and prevention strategies.

Significant Increase in Deliberate Self-Poisonings Among Adolescents During the Second Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…A large share of OTC medication in DSPs among adolescents has been shown before [ 6 , 7 , 9 , 11 , 15 , 19 ]. Such drugs are easily accessible and are often available at home for general use.…”

“…In Western society, DSP is the predominant method by which adolescents intentionally harm themselves [ [3] , [4] , [5] , [6] , [7] , [8] , [9] , [10] , [11] , [12] , [13] , [14] ]. Over-the-counter (OTC) analgesics, in particular paracetamol and ibuprofen, are the predominant substances used for DSPs by adolescents, followed by antidepressants and sedatives/hypnotics [ [6] , [7] , [8] , [9] , 15 ]. The preferred DSP substances may differ between boys and girls, with girls predominantly using analgesics, and boys more prone to using sedatives, hypnotics and/or antipsychotics [ 9 ].…”

“…Over-the-counter (OTC) analgesics, in particular paracetamol and ibuprofen, are the predominant substances used for DSPs by adolescents, followed by antidepressants and sedatives/hypnotics [ [6] , [7] , [8] , [9] , 15 ]. The preferred DSP substances may differ between boys and girls, with girls predominantly using analgesics, and boys more prone to using sedatives, hypnotics and/or antipsychotics [ 9 ]. Several risk factors for DSPs among adolescents have been described: female gender [ [7] , [8] , [9] , [10] , [11] , [15] , [16] , [17] ], older age [ 9 , 10 , 15 ], school terms/school pressure [ 7 , 15 ], and socio-economic deprivation [ 18 ].…”

“…The preferred DSP substances may differ between boys and girls, with girls predominantly using analgesics, and boys more prone to using sedatives, hypnotics and/or antipsychotics [ 9 ]. Several risk factors for DSPs among adolescents have been described: female gender [ [7] , [8] , [9] , [10] , [11] , [15] , [16] , [17] ], older age [ 9 , 10 , 15 ], school terms/school pressure [ 7 , 15 ], and socio-economic deprivation [ 18 ].…”

Poisoning in children and adolescents in Kermanshah city, Iran

“…On the other hand, the prevalence of intentional poisoning in this study was higher in girls (n = 49, 63.6), and there was a statistically signi cant difference between gender and intentional and unintentional poisoning so that the prevalence of poisoning in girls increased with age (p-value = 0.005). The prevalence of intentional poisoning was higher in girls in the studies of Kanita Dervic in Australia (40), Zrinka Laido in Austria (28), Jung Lee in Taiwan (24), Gonzalez-Urdiales, Paula MD in Spain (41), and Britni Overall in America (42). This gender difference in intentional poisoning can be due to a higher rate of psychiatric problems, especially depression, more emotional crises in adolescence, premature puberty, and hormonal changes in girls (25).…”