NCJ Number
142843
Date Published
1993
Length
51 pages
Annotation
Data for July 1, 1992-December 31, 1992, 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 211 overdoses reported from the data period, 70 percent involved female patients, an increase of 8 percent in female overdoses from the previous reporting period. Suicide attempts were again the leading reason for taking substances, with 78 percent of the cases involving such attempts. The percentage of suicide attempts among males increased 4 percent, and the percentage of attempts among females decreased 6 percent. The percentage among white males increased 14 percent. The overall percentage of overdoses increased 4 percent. The top 12 substances of abuse were acetaminophen, aspirin, ibuprofen, clonazepam, alprazolam, fluoxetine, propoxyphene, benedryl, lorazepam, methamphetamine, nortriptyline, and tylenol with codeine. Nonnarcotic analgesics were the most frequently reported substances abused in all age breakdowns. In addition to aggregate data from all hospitals reporting, data are presented for each hospital.