Overview of Toxic Ingestions in Adolescents

Abstract

There has been an overall increase in the number of suspected suicide attempts by self-poisoning among the adolescent population. Incidences of self-poisoning have increased since the coronavirus 2019 pandemic, particularly among patients age 10 to 19 years. Common agents used in self-poisoning include over-the-counter and prescription medications. It is crucial to identify adolescent patients with risk factors and provide appropriate resources to reduce the likelihood of intentional toxic ingestion. This article aims to summarize the current state of intentional toxic ingestions by adolescents, provide an overview of the most common agents implicated in self-poisoning, and discuss the best practices in screening patients. [ Pediatr Ann . 2024;53(9):e330–e336.]