Intoxication-related teenagers' suicide attempts - an analysis of the issue

SOSNOWSKA, Weronika, BRZOZOWSKA, Aleksandra, TCHÓRZ, Michał, TOMCZYK, Jakub, WIĘCŁAW, Kacper and STAŃKO, Katarzyna. Intoxication-related teenagers’ suicide attempts - an analysis of the issue. Journal of Education, Health and Sport. 2023;43(1):116-126. eISSN 2391-8306. DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.12775/JEHS.2023.43.01.010 https://apcz.umk.pl/JEHS/article/view/45021 https://zenodo.org/record/8223244 The journal has had 40 points in Ministry of Education and Science of Poland parametric evaluation. Annex to the announcement of the Minister of Education and Science of 17.07.2023 No. 32318. Has a Journal's Unique Identifier: 201159. Scientific disciplines assigned: Physical Culture Sciences (Field of Medical sciences and health sciences); Health Sciences (Field of Medical Sciences and Health Sciences). Punkty Ministerialne z 2019 - aktualny rok 40 punktów. Załącznik do komunikatu Ministra Edukacji i Nauki z dnia 17.07.2023 Lp. 32318. Posiada Unikatowy Identyfikator Czasopisma: 201159. Przypisane dyscypliny naukowe: Nauki o kulturze fizycznej (Dziedzina nauk medycznych i nauk o zdrowiu); Nauki o zdrowiu (Dziedzina nauk medycznych i nauk o zdrowiu). © The Authors 2023; This article is published with open access at Licensee Open Journal Systems of Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Poland Open Access. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial License which permits any noncommercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author (s) and source are credited. This is an open access article licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non commercial license Share alike. (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/) which permits unrestricted, non commercial use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the work is properly cited. The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this paper. Received: 11.07.2023. Revised:30.07.2023. Accepted: 07.08.2023. Published: 15.08.2023. Intoxication-related teenagers' suicide attempts - an analysis of the issue Weronika Sosnowska https://orcid.org/0009-0003-4608-5521 weronika.sosnowska07@gmail.com Stefan Wyszyński Regional Specialist Hospital, Lublin, Poland. Aleksandra Brzozowska https://orcid.org/0009-0008-7687-1140 brzozola@onet.eu Stefan Wyszyński Regional Specialist Hospital, Lublin, Poland. Michał Tchórz https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1308-099X tchorz.michal@gmail.com Toxicology Clinic, Medical University, Lublin, Poland. Jakub Tomczyk https://orcid.org/0009-0008-0586-5798 jjtomczyk15@gmail.com Stefan Wyszyński Regional Specialist Hospital, Lublin, Poland. Kacper Więcław https://orcid.org/0009-0005-9959-6709 kwieclaww@gmail.com Stefan Wyszyński Regional Specialist Hospital, Lublin, Poland. Katarzyna Stańko https://orcid.org/0009-0003-1097-2508 kasiastanko95@gmail.com The Independent Public Hospital No.4 in Lublin, Poland. ABSTRACT Introduction and Aim: Adolescent suicide attempts are a significant clinical and social issue. Often, young people resort to medications, alcohol, or psychoactive substances in their suicide attempts. The aim of this study was to analyze the factors contributing to suicidal behaviors and the characteristics of substances used by adolescents for suicidal purposes. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective study, medical documentation analysis was used. The study included the medical records of 45 individuals up to 18 years of age who were admitted to the Clinical Toxicology-Cardiology Department due to poisoning for the purpose of suicide in the year 2022. Results: The study group consisted of 45 individuals aged 15 to 18 years. Suicide attempts accounted for 37.5% of toxicology hospitalizations in the under 18 age group. The dominant group consisted of females (82.2%) and urban residents (62.2%). Those hospitalized following a suicide attempt primarily used medications, often over-the-counter analgesics. The majority (71.1%) suffered from mental disorders, predominantly depressive disorders (81.2%). Conclusions: Among suicide attempts involving intoxication, those utilizing medications are dominant. A concerning phenomenon is the use of over-the-counter (OTC) medications, commonly considered safe. Girls are particularly vulnerable to emotional difficulties that can lead to suicide. Mental disorders pose a suicidal risk, and patients with such disorders have access to psychiatric medications that can become tools for self-harm. Keywords: children; adolescents; suicide; poisonin