1. A Common Cause of Poisoning
Benzodiazepines
A Common Cause of Poisoning
Extent of the Problem
Karen E. Simone, PharmD, DABAT
Northern New England Poison Center
(207)

2. Northern New England Poison Center
Certified by the American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC) in November 2004
Staff
Hotline
Outreach
Surveillance
Research
Funding: Maine Medical Center; Fletcher Allen Health Care; States of Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont; Health Resources and Services Administration; United Ways of Greater Portland, York, Kennebec Valley; Purdue Pharma L.P. (surveillance projects)

3. Learning Objectives:
Describe the prevalence of benzodiazepines in overdoses reported to the Northern New England Poison Center (NNEPC).
Indicate what poison data suggest regarding the contribution of benzodiazepines to the prescription drug abuse problem in the State of Maine.
Name the most commonly abused benzodiazepines
Discuss the prevalence of abuse of the newer hypnotics

4. Northern New England Poison Center Hotline Calls
2005

5. Northern New England Poison Center Hotline Calls
2005

6. Human and animal
7.4% of the exposures to benzos were in pets
Human and Animal

7. Human only, some reasons only
Substance Citings
Human
Human

8. Human only
0.5% in those < 6 years (#35)
0.3% in 6 – 12 years (#3)
Human

9. Human and animal
3% in < 6 Years (#4)
9% in 6 – 12 Years (#18)
Human and Animal