A Study on the Misuses of Pesticides for Suicides

농약이 자살목적으로 오용되고 있는 실태조사

This study was conducted on 334 cases of the acute drug intoxication visited to the emergency room of Gyungsang University Hospital for 3 years from January 1, 1988 to December 31,1990. The results were as follows: 1. The ratio of acute drug intoxicated patients to total patients of the emergency room was $1.9\%$. 2. Male was slightly more than female(1.14 : 1). The highest rate was shown in the age group of 30 years. 3. The monthly incidence was higher at the period from May to September. 4. The suicidal attempts ratio of the patients over 10 years old was $84.9\%$. 5. $74.9\%$ of total cases were intoxicated with pesticides. Among 270 cases who had committed suicide, 220 cases $(81.5\%)$ had ingested pesticides. 6. The fatality rate among cases of pesticides intoxication was $35.2\%$, among chemical intoxication $15.1\%$ and among medical drug intoxication $4.3\%$. 7. 13 cases$(3.9\%)$ of 334 cases showed the psychological problem on chart.