While hospitalisation and death rates had not increased in recent years,“there is a concerning increase of misuse in the community”,the regulator said in a statement.
In their review of available evidence,the panel found paracetamol overdoses,particularly intentional poisonings,were two to three times more common in females than males. They found a “notable” increase in poisonings among teenage girls in 2019 to 2021.
The panel made four recommendations on the selling of paracetamol:a reduction in the size of packs sold in supermarkets and convenience stores without a prescription,or in pharmacies without the advice of a pharmacist;a limit of one or two packs per transaction to reduce home stockpiles;making modified-release paracetamol (a stronger dose designed for long-term use) prescription only;and restricting purchase without a prescription to people aged 18 and over.
It also recommended improving communication around the potential harms from paracetamol,maintaining and expanding follow-up care after self-harm and increasing awareness about safer storage and reducing stockpiling of medicines.
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Previous University of Sydney analyses of data from the information centre has found overdoses in children are more likely to occur on school days,and the average age of an overdose is decreasing.
“But there is little evidence showing why this is happening,and why children are doing it younger and younger,” Buckley said,adding that,in addition to the recommendations,the panel also wanted more investment in research on the topic.
“Deliberate self-harm is a harder thing to stop,but stopping harm from paracetamol,specifically,is easier.”
Scientia Professor Helen Christensen,a Black Dog Institute board member and a member of the independent panel,said the review confirmed what services had been observing for the past decade.
“Paracetamol is available in the home,it is accessible,and the evidence suggests that this self-harm is an impulsive act,” she said.
“Reducing access to means is one of the best tools we have to reduce harm. We are very safe with medications around young children,or with elderly people who have confusion.”
The consultation on the recommendations is open until October 14. The Advisory Committee on Medicines Scheduling recommended the regulator consult widely on options to make changes to the Poisons Standard.
In 2018,the regulatormoved to make low-dose codeine products a prescription-only medication,amid concern about codeine addiction and overdoses.
With Liam Mannix
Crisis support is available fromLifeline on 13 11 14.
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