Citation

Hawton KE. Suicide Life Threat. Behav. 2002; 32(3): 223-229.

Affiliation

Centre for Suicide Research, Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Warneford Hospital, United Kingdom.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2002, American Association of Suicidology, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

12374469

Abstract

Following increasing concern in the UK about the mortality and morbidity associated with self-poisoning with analgesics, especially paracetamol (Tylenol, acetaminophen), legislation was introduced in 1998 to modify packs sold over-the-counter. The most important change was a reduction in the maximum size of packs. In this paper the background to the legislation, the rationale behind it, and its early impact are reviewed. The changes have had significant positive initial benefits on the mortality and morbidity associated with self-poisoning with analgesics.