BMJ  2004;329 (6 November), doi:10.1136/bmj.329.7474.0-c

Overdoses fell after pack sizes were reduced

Cutting the size of packs of analgesics sold over the counter has been associated with fewer suicides. Hawton and colleagues (p 1076) report that suicide deaths from paracetamol and salicylates fell by 22% in the year after legislation and stayed low for the next two years. They also found a significant decrease in the number of tablets taken in non-fatal overdoses and a 30% drop in liver unit admissions due to paracetamol induced hepatotoxicity.

Credit: STEVEN PUETZER/PHOTONICA

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UK legislation on analgesic packs: before and after study of long term effect on poisonings

Keith Hawton, Sue Simkin, Jonathan Deeks, Jayne Cooper, Amy Johnston, Keith Waters, Morag Arundel, William Bernal, Bridget Gunson, Mark Hudson, Deepak Suri, and Kenneth Simpson
BMJ 2004 329: 1076. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]