Long term effect of reduced pack sizes of paracetamol on poisoning deaths and liver transplant activity in England and Wales: interrupted time series analyses.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To assess the long term effect of United Kingdom legislation introduced in September 1998 to restrict pack sizes of paracetamol on deaths from paracetamol poisoning and liver unit activity.

Design

Interrupted time series analyses to assess mean quarterly changes from October 1998 to the end of 2009 relative to projected deaths without the legislation based on pre-legislation trends.

Setting

Mortality (1993-2009) and liver unit activity (1995-2009) in England and Wales, using information from the Office for National Statistics and NHS Blood and Transplant, respectively.

Participants

Residents of England and Wales.

Main outcome measures

Suicide, deaths of undetermined intent, and accidental poisoning deaths involving single drug ingestion of para

SUBMITTER: Hawton K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3567205 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature