The New Zealand medical journal
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To review the recent epidemiology of deliberate self poisoning presentations to Christchurch Emergency Department and to compare this with 1992 and 1989 data. ⋯ Deliberate self poisoning remains a problem mainly of the young with a gender ratio favouring female. Antidepressant medications, paracetamol, benzodiazepines and antipsychotics remain the most common classes of drugs taken alone or in combination. An important trend within the antidepressants is the increasing misuse of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Rates of admission to hospital and the Intensive Care Unit have changed but mortality rates have had no significant change over the three time periods. Gastrointestinal decontamination techniques employed follow a trend towards the use of activated charcoal and away from gastric lavage.