Household drugs highest cause of kids' poisoning
Household drugs are the most common cause of poisoning in Irish children under the age of 10, figures revealed today.
Out of 4,263 inquiries concerning suspected poisoning of youngsters last year, more than 2,300 were linked to drugs such as painkillers, antibiotics and cough and cold preparations.
Heath chiefs said that by returning unused medication to chemists people could prevent accidental child poisoning and suicides.
A new campaign has been launched to persuade householders to return out of date medication to their local pharmacies.
Mary Mooney, who chairs the South Western Area Health Board, said: “To safeguard the health and safety of our families we need to recognise that there are potentially dangerous medicines being stored in our homes and take steps to secure these and to keep only what’s necessary.”
In a pilot exercise at pharmacies in the health board during September nearly 1.5 tonnes of medication were returned.
Today the Dispose of Unused Medication Properly (DUMP) campaign was expanded to more than 150 pharmacies in the south west of the Republic.
It was described by junior health minister Tim O’Malley as a “hugely important initiative“.
Martin Rogan, assistant chief executive of the South Western Area Health Board, said: “Greater public education is required in the effective use of medicines, particularly in terms of taking medication as directed and its safe storage and disposal.
“The pilot of the DUMP campaign provided evidence that there is a direct correlation between the medication used as a method of overdose and the medication returned.”
Figures released at the launch were based on information from the National Poisons Information Centre.
Data from the National Suicide Research Foundation also showed that an estimated 10,500 people attended accident and emergency departments in 2002 as a result of attempted suicide or deliberate self harm.
Some 77% of these cases involved a drugs overdose.
