1. Benzodiazepines Use, Misuse, Abuse and Poisoning
Karen E. Simone, PharmD, DABAT
Northern New England Poison Center

2. Contents Poison Center Overview Types of Hotline Calls
Benzodiazepine Perspective

3. 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/MaineHealth; Fletcher Allen Health Care; States of Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont; Health Resources and Services Administration; United Ways of Greater Portland, York, Kennebec Valley; Denver Health (surveillance projects)

6. Types of Calls – Poisoning Reasons
Unintentional
General, environmental, misuse, therapeutic error, occupational, good poisoning, bite/sting
Intentional
Abuse, misuse, suicide attempt
Other
Malicious, tampering/contamination, withdrawal
Adverse effect
Drug, chemical, other
Unknown
This is over 220 call per day.
The Center now receives over 200 calls per day.
Animal exposures are mostly dogs, some cats, then birds, ferrets and other unusual creatures.
Confirmed non-exposures: example – mom thinks child swallowed a watch battery, then during conversation with the poison center, finds it. This is now confirmed non-exposure. (the child never swallowed the battery.)

7. Types of Calls – Question Types
Substance Abuse
Identification, effects, drug screens, withdrawal
Medication
Pharmacology, adverse effects, interactions, withdrawal
Toxicology
General, environmental, food poisoning, pregnancy/lactation
Prevention/safety
Plants, lectures/health fairs, printed materials
Occupation
Safety, monitoring
Medical/legal/other
Drug, chemical, other
This is over 220 call per day.
The Center now receives over 200 calls per day.
Animal exposures are mostly dogs, some cats, then birds, ferrets and other unusual creatures.
Confirmed non-exposures: example – mom thinks child swallowed a watch battery, then during conversation with the poison center, finds it. This is now confirmed non-exposure. (the child never swallowed the battery.)

8. Benzodiazepines Poisoning Victims
Age and Gender

9. Human poisonings, known ages

10. Human poisonings, known ages, known reasons

11. Human poisonings, known ages, known reasons

12. Human poisonings, known ages, known reasons

13. Human poisonings, known ages, known reasons

14. Benzodiazepines Poisoning Victims
Reason by Age

15. Human poisonings, known ages, known reasons

16. Human poisonings, known ages, known reasons

17. Reason for Unintentional Benzodiazepine Animal Poisoning
Accessed medicine from:
Floor
Trash container
Medicine bottle (chewed)
Mom’s or Dad’s
Grandma’s
Sitter’s
Effects: vomiting, wobbly legs, unsteady on paws

18. Reason for Unintentional Benzodiazepine Child Poisoning
Similar to pet, also note:
Therapeutic error (parent’s anti-anxiety instead of child’s attention deficit medication)
Accessed from drug-dealing situation
Accessed from pill reminder
Other medications sometimes involved
Effects: ataxia, lethargy, slurred speech, dizziness, vomiting, (respiratory depression if other medications involved)

19. Human poisonings, known ages, known reasons

20. Human poisonings, known ages, known reasons

21. How frequent? Which ones?
Benzodiazepines
How frequent?
Which ones?

22. Human poisonings, known ages, known reasons

23. Human poisonings, known ages, known reasons

24. Human poisonings, known ages, known reasons

25. Human poisonings, known ages, known reasons

26. Substance Abuse Questions
Benzodiazepines
Substance Abuse
Questions