Responding to the rising number of suicides using barbiturates

Suicide prevention requires ensuring that social media are responsible and accountable, and that poisoning surveillance systems are adequately supported

Barbiturates have a narrow therapeutic index, and accidental or deliberate poisoning can cause coma and cardiorespiratory arrest. Barbiturate‐related death rates were high in the mid‐20th century, when barbiturates were still commonly prescribed, but safer alternatives mean that clinical indications for prescribing them are now extremely limited.1 Over the past twenty years, however, interest in barbiturates has increased, particularly in their use at the end of life.2