PEDIATRICS Vol. 93 No. 6 June 1994, pp. A36
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow P3Rs: Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when P3Rs are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow E-mail this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My File Cabinet
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via CrossRef
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Myers, W. C.
Right arrow Articles by Moreno, A.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow Articles by Myers, W. C.
Right arrow Articles by Moreno, A.

ACETAMINOPHEN OVERDOSE AS A SUICIDAL GESTURE: A SURVEY OF ADOLESCENTS' KNOWLEDGE OF ITS POTENTIAL FOR TOXICITY

Wade C. Myers M.D., Terrance A. Otto M.D., Elaine Harris Ph.D., Daniel Diaco B.S., and Anthony Moreno B.S.

Acetaminophen is a popular nonprescription analgesic that is often taken in overdose by adolescents during suicidal gestures. The authors hypothesized that most adolescents are naive about the toxic and lethal potential of acetaminophen in overdose. A one-page, 12-item questionnaire was administered to 169 high school students to evaluate their perceptions and knowledge in this area. Whereas only 22% of the sample underestimated the dose of acetaminophen necessary to cause harm, 40.5% underestimated the potential lethality of acetaminophen in overdose. Moreover, 17% of the sample did not believe one could ingest enough acetaminophen to cause death. The lack of knowledge about acetaminophen's potential dangerousness, its widespread availability, and an absence of early symptoms of hepatotoxicity make this medication highly dangerous to those adolescents who take it in overdose during parasuicidal behavior.

Key Words: suicide • adolescence • acetaminophen