Suicide-related calls involving over-the-counter painkillers are rising

Common painkillers found in household medicine cabinets — ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and aspirin — are being used more frequently in suicide attempts and are more often leading to serious medical problems than they were 20 years ago, an analysis of suicide-related calls to poison centers shows. Children and teenagers accounted for half the cases from 2000 to 2018; the 57% increase in overall cases was driven mostly by girls and women, who accounted for nearly three-quarters of all cases. Calls resulting in a serious medical outcome or hospital admission rose by almost two-thirds over the study period. One suggested solution from the authors: limit the number of pills in a package or put them in blister packs to deter what is often an impulsive act.

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 (Español: 1-888-628-9454; deaf and hard of hearing: 1-800-799-4889) or the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741.