NCJ Number
142832
Date Published
1991
Length
47 pages
Annotation
Data for January 1, 1991-June 30, 1991, from South Dakota hospitals encompass the number of drug overdoses treated, the drugs involved, reasons for taking the overdose, and demographic characteristics of the victims.
Abstract
Of the 207 overdoses reported by the hospitals, 68 percent involved female patients, down 6 percent for females from the previous 6 months. The 32 percent of overdoses that involved males was up 6 percent from the previous reporting period. The percentage of white males overdosing rose 20 percent over the last reporting period. Suicide attempts were again the most common reason for taking overdoses (86 percent). The percentage of overdoses rose from 94 percent to 97 percent, with the percentage of white male overdoses rising 6 percent. The percentage of overdoses that involved alcohol dropped by 6 percent, and those that did not involve alcohol rose by 10 percent. Nearly one-half of the overdoses involved persons in the 21- to 39-year-old age group. Forty percent of the overdoses involved 12- to 20-year-olds. The drug groups involved were, in order of frequency, nonnarcotic analgesics, tranquilizers, antidepressants, nonbarbiturate sedatives, anticonvulsants, narcotic analgesics, antibiotics, penicillin, cold preparations, oral muscle relaxants, miscellaneous, unknown, hematinics, and codeine combinations. Aggregate data are presented for all reporting hospitals, followed by presentations of data for each hospital.