§ Fiona MactaggartTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people(a) committed suicide and (b) attempted to commit suicide by taking an overdose of (i) aspirin and (ii) paracetamol in each year since 1995. [161000]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonThe information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
Letter from Karen Dunnell to Fiona Mactaggart, dated 10 May 2001:
The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question about how many people (a) committed suicide and (b) attempted to commit suicide by taking a[...]n overdose of (i) aspirin and (ii) paracetamol in each year since 1995. I am replying in his absence. (161000)Figures for the number of suicides from aspirin and paracetamol since 1995 are presented in the attached table.Figures are not available for attempted suicides by taking an overdose of aspirin or paracetamol.
Number of suicide1 deaths from paracetamol and aspirin, England and Wales, 1995 to 1999 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 (i) Aspirin Without mention of other drugs 28 24 32 24 13 With mention of other drugs2 19 19 13 11 8 (ii) Paracetamol Without mention of other drugs 155 125 162 141 104 With mention of other drugs3 98 86 97 101 110 1Includes suicide and poisoning of undetermined intent classified according to the International Classification of Disease, ninth edition, and are selected using ICD cocks E950.0-E950.5 and E980.0-E980.5. 2 Includes compounds containing aspirin 3 Includes compounds containing paracetamol