Counties reveal annual overdose statistics

More than 1,000 people in Cork and Kerry overdose on medication every year, it was revealed today.

Around 14 of those succeed in taking their own life after swallowing fatal doses of tranquillisers, antidepressants and medicines containing paracetamol.

Accidental medication poisoning also kills an average eight people each year across the two counties.

While more than 3,000 concerned parents contacted the national poisons information centre believing their children had accidentally overdosed on brightly coloured medications mistaken for sweets or drinks, during a 12-month period.

A new initiative to cut overdoses and deaths across the south west was unveiled by the Health Service Executive (HSE).

Patients are urged to return unwanted or out-of-date prescriptions and over-the-counter medicines to one of 200 community pharmacists under the Disposed of Unused Medicines Properly scheme.

“Medication can pose a real hazard in the home, particularly to children or other vulnerable people,” added Louise Creed, HSE South Community Care Pharmacist.

“We would strongly urge people to take this opportunity to get rid of out of date or unused medicines.

“Clearing out your medicine cabinet is something that should be done on a regular basis.

“Check all the dates and remove anything that is out of date or no longer required. As well as the hazards posed by overdose, accidental poisoning and damage to the environment, medicines can change when out of date and may end up being harmful.”

Pharmacists urged householders to store medicines with their original labels in a child-resistant container and high out of their reach.

The HSE also warned that prescriptions should only be taken as directed by the patient, not shared by those with the same symptoms, and not poured down a sink or toilet for fears of damaging the environment.

The figures released found that every year more than 1,000 people arrive at hospital emergency departments in Cork and Kerry due to intentional overdoses of medication, accounting for three-quarters of all parasuicide/deliberate self harm admissions.

While several medications can be taken in the overdose acts, almost half (44%) involved a minor tranquilliser, 33% involved medicines containing paracetamol and 25% involved antidepressants/mood stabilisers.

There are approximately 90 deaths by suicide in the counties, with an average 14 (16% or one in six) due to an overdose of medication.

In 2005, the National Poisons Information Centre received more than 9,000 inquiries about pharmaceutical overdoses, with in excess of 3,000 of these inquiries involving children.