Differences Between Adolescent and Adult Cases of Suicidal Drug Intoxication

Abstract

Objective: Drug intoxications are among the major causes of emergency department admissions. There is a limited number of studies exploring the differences between adolescent and adult cases of intoxication. We aimed to compare adolescent and adult cases of drug intoxication to determine demographic and clinical properties of intoxications and necessary measures that have to be taken in both age groups.

Material and Methods: Adolescent (9-19 years of age) and adult (19 years or older) cases of drug intoxication that presented to our Emergency Department between 1 June 2009 and 30 June 2010 were retrospectiely reviewed. Age, sex, purpose of drug intake, whether or not an antidote was used, single-or multidrug intake, the group of the offending drug, duration of hospital stay, and clinical outcomes were recorded.

Results: This study included a total of 278 patients, of which 39.2% (n=109) were adolescent and 60.8% (n=169) were adult. Among adolescents, 15.6% (n=17) were male and 84.4% (n=92) were female while % 20.1 (n=34) of adults were male and 79.9% (n=139) were female. The mean age was 16.68 +/- 1.774 years in the adolescents and 27.87 +/- 7.264 in the adults. An antidote was used in 30% (n=3) of the adolescents and 70% (n=7) of the adults. Suicidal drug intake formed 39.2% (n=109) of the cases in the adolescents and 60.8% (n=169) in the adults. Multi-drug intake had a rate of 51.9% (n= 42) in the adolescents and 48.1% (n=39) in the adults. Paracetamol was the offending agent in 46.9% (n= 23) of the adolescents, while antidepressnats were responsible for 65.2% (n=30) of the drug intoxications in the adults. Duration of hospital stay was 1.19 +/- 0.775 hours in the adolescents and 1.15 +/- 0.617 hours in the adult cases. None of the patients in both groups died.

Conclusion: Acute intoxications are an important medical problem for emergency departments. The most common suicide method is drug intake. Drug intoxications were more prevalent in women in both adolescent and adult age groups. Suicidal drug intoxications were more common in the adults compared to the adolescents. Paracetamol was the most commonly taken drug in the adolescents while antidepressants were the most common drugs in the adults. Multi-drug intake was more common in the adolescents than the adults. It is possible to reduce the number of drug intoxications by determining risk factors, taking necessary measures, and planning appropriate population-based educational activities.