Characteristics of Suicides Caused by Drug Overdose in the Secunderabad Region

Suicidal drug overdose is a major public health issue in india.

is to focus on the characteristics of suicide victims in the Secunderabad region.

This study was a retrospective review of autopsy cases of all suicide deaths caused by drug (s) or drug (s) with alcohol intoxication investigated over a 3-year period from January 2012 to December 2014. All detected drugs and/or metabolites were confirmed using GC-mass spectrometry (GC-MS).

From 2011 to 2014, 334 deaths were certified as suicide. The male and female ratio was almost equal. Their ages ranged 15–75 years. Of the 134 suicidal drug overdose deaths, 87 victims (63.8%) consumed a single drug type and 47 (36.2%) consumed more than one type of drug. Of the 87 single-drug overdose cases, 71.1% suicides were due to prescription drugs, 23.5% due to over-the-counter drugs, and 5.4% due to street/recreational drugs. Among single-type prescription drugs, analgesic (N = 26), antidepressant (N = 22), and neuroleptic (N = 09) classes were the three leading type of drugs used in suicidal deaths. Morphine, quetiapine, and amitriptyline were the most common prescription drugs in suicidal overdose. Of the multiple-drug overdose suicides, 66.2% cases involved antidepressants.

Our study indicates that prescription drugs, such as those in the opioid analgesic, neuroleptic, and antidepressant class (e.g., morphine, quetiapine, amitriptyline and citalopram), are of special concern in the context of suicidal overdose deaths. Therefore, addressing the problems of intentional drug overdose in our society is worthy of public attention.