Paracetamol among the means of suicidal actions in Russia and abroad

The article presents a review of literature data on the place paracetamol takes among the means of suicidal actions in Russia and abroad. It has been shown that the drug has been successfully used for several decades by adults and children as an analgesic and antipyretic. However, in many countries, except Russia, it is also used as a means of suicide and the proportion of paracetamol in deliberate attempts of self-poisoning reaches 28-44.9%. In 47-90% cases an overdose is associated with a suicide attempt. Among suicide attempters, women prevail (54-85%), mean age 25 y.o. They tend to have lower level of education and lower socio-economic status. At the time of an overdose, many suicide attempters demonstrate acute stress reactions and development of depression (57%). Conflicts in the family and with relatives are more often indicated as the causes and motives of suicidal actions. The preferred choice of paracetamol as a means of self-harm in foreign countries is associated with its wide availability outside the pharmacy network and over-the-counter sales, as well as the idea about its toxicity spread in the general public...