Public Health England reveals latest figures for admissions of young people for self-poisoning

The Public Health England report shows that more than 26,000 children and young people were admitted to hospital in England after poisoning themselves in 2017-18, with girls and young women the most likely to be admitted

Intentional self-poisoning by young people and children as young as ten resulted in more than 26,000 hospital admissions in the year to April 2018, according to a report from Public Health England.

Most admissions following self-poisoning were as a result of drug overdoses, but the report also reveals that other methods included swallowing bleach.

The report, Hospital admissions as a result of intentional self-poisoning by young people, 2013/14 to 2017/18, looks at trends in hospital admission in England by age.

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It shows that admissions of girls aged 11 rose from 45 in 2013-14 to 77 in 2017-18, while those for boys aged 12 increased from 26 to 67.

Number of admissions as a result of poisoning fluctuated each year

There were 26,293 hospital admissions of children and young people aged 10-24 as a result of self-poisoning in 2017-18. Of these, 3,861 were aged 15, the peak age for admissions. The report states that there are steady rates of admissions into the early twenties.

Total numbers of admissions as a result of poisoning fluctuated each year – the figure for 2017-18 was higher than in 2016-17 but lower than that for 2013-14.

The report said that at all ages it covers, more girls and young women are admitted to hospital as a result of self-poisoning than boys and young men.

Find out more

Public Health England (2019) Hospital admissions as a result of intentional self-poisoning by young people, 2013/14 to 2017/18