¹ Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
² Children’s Research Institute, Washington, DC, USA
³ George Washington University School of Medicine and School of Public Health, Washington, DC, USA
⁴ Department of Emergency Medicine, Children’s National Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA
⁵ The Mautner Project, Washington, DC, USA
⁶ National Institutes of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD, USA

Correspondence to:
Dr T L Cheng
Chief, Division of General Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, 600 N Wolfe Street, Park 392, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA

ABSTRACT
Aim: Among adolescents, poisoning is a leading cause of injury mortality in the United States. This study describes the epidemiology of poisonings, intoxication, and maladaptive effects of drugs among adolescents age 10–19 years in a large city.

Methods: An injury surveillance system used records at seven hospitals, medical examiner records, and vital records over a two year period.

Results: Of 633 cases (618 injuries/100 000/year), 6% were unintentional, 36% self-inflicted, 41% alcohol intoxication, and 15% maladaptive effects of drugs. Alcohol was involved in 45% of cases, 23% illegal drugs, 23% non-prescription drugs, 19% prescription drugs; 19% involved more than one substance. Hospitalization was required in 20%; 8% transferred to another hospital; one died from intoxication. The authors found high rates of self-inflicted poisoning, intoxication, and maladaptive effects of drugs among this urban population.

Conclusion: The study highlights the need to broadly define poisonings among adolescents and the challenge of assessing intent in some cases.

Keywords: poisoning; drug abuse; substance-related disorders; injury; epidemiology