Drugs and other chemicals involved in fatal poisoning in England and Wales during 2000–2011

Abstract

Alterations in the availability of paracetamol and of prescription drugs such as dextropropoxyphene and dosulepin have not been accompanied by decreases in the number of deaths from poisoning. Despite intense media and other interest, the annual number of deaths (250 – 300) involving ‘ recreational ’ drugs remains small in relation to the 1000 or so deaths a year from diamorphine and/or methadone.

Overdose Risk in Young Children of Women Prescribed Opioids

“…3,4 More than 250 000 Americans have died of opioids over the past 20 years, and roughly 7000 are treated each day in emergency departments across the United States for opioid misuse. 4 Similar phenomena have been observed in Canada, 5 the United Kingdom, 6 and Australia. 7 Although a great deal of harm associated with prescription opioids involves patients, misuse and overdose can also occur as the result of diversion, medication sharing, and other indirect mechanisms.…”

Poisoning deaths in Poland: Types and frequencies reported in Łódź, Kraków, Sosnowiec, Gdańsk, Wrocław and Poznań during 2009–2013

“…In our opinion, the large recorded number of cases of benzodiazepine poisoning may reflect their extensive sales and overall use [25,26]. In contrast to our data, Handley and Flanagan [5] data from investigation of poisoning deaths in Poland may be very useful for the development of preventive programs connected with intentional poisonings. Such programs should be focused on the role of family doctors in the process of recovery after acute poisoning.…”

“…The Ordinance of 25 September 2013 issued by the Minister of National Economy, has banned the sales of substances containing methanol at concentrations over 3% by weight and mixtures containing methanol at concentrations over 3% by weight to consumers of methanol throughout the whole territory of Poland [18]. Increased number of fatal poisoning due to alcohol ingestion has also been noted by Handley and Flanagan [5] in 2011 (401 cases) in comparison with the period 2000-2010 (median (Me) = 167, range 113-198 per year) in England and Wales. However, this sudden increase was due to a coding change following the implementation of ICD-10 version 2010 rather than increased production of this toxic agent.…”

The prescription opioid epidemic: an overview for anesthesiologists

“…[1][2][3][4][5] This has been accompanied by a marked increase in opioid-related morbidity and mortality. 3,[6][7][8] In Ontario, the rate of opioidrelated mortality has more than tripled since the early 1990s.…”

“…3 The same phenomenon-a rise in opioid prescriptions with a corresponding increase in mortality-has been reported in both the United Kingdom (UK) and Australia. 4,5 While primary care physicians issue most opioid prescriptions, anesthesiologists utilize opioids regularly for anesthesia, acute postoperative pain, and the treatment of chronic pain. Herein, we detail the historical context surrounding the growth of this epidemic and create a framework for future discussion and research in the hope that anesthesiologists can make an important contribution to alleviate this problem.…”