Adults who send children to their deaths

The Secretary of the Central Headquarters and the National Center for Drug and Poison Information announced details about poisoning with narcotics and stimulants, toxins and detergents, and opiates containing lead, and warned families about children being poisoned at home with chemicals.

In an interview with ISNA, Dr. Yasna Behmanesh said about the most common type of poisoning in the country, stating that the most common poisoning that has led to death in recent years has been poisoning due to drug abuse, and between 57 and 65 percent of deaths each year have occurred due to drug use and complications from addiction to drugs and stimulants. He added: "Of course, deaths due to drug abuse can include acute drug poisoning, which is about 55 percent, deaths due to complications from long-term use and diseases resulting from it, such as AIDS infections, hepatitis, etc., which occur in about 37 percent, and deaths due to psychoactive drug use occur in about eight percent."

Lead poisoning in opium addicts

Referring to lead poisoning in opium addicts, which has suddenly increased in the country this year, he continued: "Most of those poisoned by lead were people who had been poisoned by consuming opium contaminated with lead. In this context, it should be noted that drug traffickers manually add lead to their cargo in order to increase its weight, and opium addicts are poisoned by consuming lead-contaminated material."

80 % of deaths from poisoning occur in men .

He stated that according to statistics from the country's Forensic Medicine Organization, unfortunately, 80 percent of deaths from poisoning occur in men and 20 percent in women, adding: "Of course, the gender breakdown of poisoned patients who refer to poisoning reference hospitals does not follow a similar pattern throughout the country. For example, in Loghman Hakim Hospital in Tehran or Imam Reza Hospital in Mashhad, the percentage of male poisoned patients is higher than female."

Behmanesh continued in this regard: "While among the poisoned people who visited hospitals in Isfahan province, we see that the percentage of women is higher. On the other hand, the country's Forensic Medicine Organization has announced that deaths from poisoning in men are four times higher than in women, and that mainly men are poisoned with more dangerous substances."

The Secretary of the Central Headquarters and the National Center for Drug and Poison Information stated that in terms of age distribution, most poisoned people who visit the hospital are in the young age range, i.e. 20 to 40 years old. He added: "After that, the next rank is poisoning in adolescents and finally in people over 40 years old and also under 12 years old."

Housewives are more likely to be poisoned .

Behmanesh added: "Also, among the various professions in society, the highest prevalence of poisoning is seen in housewives, and the important point is that 89 percent of poisoning cases occur at home, and this shows the need to make homes safe."

Find the children

He said: "Families with children under five should note that a 10-year-old student will easily walk past a container of shoe polish, a miniature battery in a toy mobile phone, a medicine package or a cardboard box of toothpaste. While a lively two-year-old who is roaming around the house and discovering the unknown, all these items are amazing to him and will undoubtedly put all these objects in his mouth to identify them." Identifying them will put all these objects in his mouth.

Behmanesh advised families to look at the house from the perspective of the youngest member of the family and start at the entrance of the house, i.e. the shoe rack and wardrobe in front of the door, and by inspecting and examining each room, bathroom, toilet, kitchen, yard and storage room, remove all items that could lead to poisoning. For example, avoid keeping houseplants to eliminate the risk of children swallowing and putting poisonous plants in their mouths.

Do not refrigerate medications.

He continued: "Also, move chemicals, household detergents, insecticides, medicines, cosmetics and hygiene products to the upper cupboards and lock their doors if possible. At the same time, avoid storing medicines in the refrigerator, because only a handful of medicines require refrigeration, and in general, storing medicines in the refrigerator is a very bad idea."

Addicted adults who send children to their deaths !

The Secretary of the Central Headquarters and the National Center for Drug and Poison Information stated that every year we witness the deaths of children and relatives of addicts who are undergoing their addiction treatment with methadone, and stated: "Storing methadone syrup, especially in beverage bottles such as soda and medicine bottles, has so far led to the deaths of dozens of children and even adults. At the same time, I emphasize that common medications do not need to be stored in the refrigerator and should be discarded after the treatment period has passed. On the other hand, necessary medications should be kept in a locked cupboard, out of reach and at a height higher than children can reach."

Behmanesh added: "Families should pay attention to not using words like candy or fruit syrup when giving their children medicine, as this will encourage the child to take the medicine. At the same time, in general, avoid storing medicine in the bedroom and bedside drawers, handbags, and food packaging. Do not buy toys with miniature batteries for children, and be careful not to swallow these types of batteries by children."

A danger called detergent !

He continued his speech by mentioning the toxicity of chemical descalers and drain cleaners, bleaches, and detergents, saying: "These are examples of chemicals, and if accidentally swallowed, their burning and tissue-destroying effects will lead to perforation of the digestive tract and death." Also, petroleum products should not be stored in children's play areas, such as yards. This is because it has happened many times that children, regardless of the smell of petroleum products, have drunk from containers containing gasoline, oil, and diesel in the play area when they are thirsty. Families should note that when faced with these cases, they should immediately take the child to the hospital.

Behmanesh stated that fortunately, good measures have been taken by the Food and Drug Administration to prevent poisoning with household detergents, adding: "For example, now the issuance of a license for dangerous detergents is subject to having a child-resistant door and not using fragrances in these products."

Highest cases of intentional poisoning

Declining trend in rice pill poisoning

In another part of his speech, he stated that drug poisoning and poisoning with plant pesticides are the highest cause of intentional poisoning, and said: "At the same time, deaths from poisoning due to intentional consumption of rice tablets have gradually decreased in recent years."

10% of poisoning deaths are caused by rice pills

According to Behmanesh, the mortality rate from poisoning with toxins such as rice tablets, plant pesticides, alcohol, rodenticides, and cyanide was 15 to 18 percent, and among these, rice tablets are considered the leading cause of fatal poisonings caused by toxins, with more than half of the cases of poisoning caused by the aforementioned toxins. In general, rice tablets account for 10 percent of deaths from poisoning.

He continued: "At the same time, regarding poisoning caused by toxins, it should be said that from 2013 to the first half of 2016, the number of deaths caused by poisoning with toxins has gradually decreased. Fortunately, the death rate from aluminum phosphide poisoning, or rice tablets, has also decreased from 2013 to the first half of 2016, from 11.7 percent to 9.7 percent."

The Secretary of the Central Headquarters and the National Center for Drug and Poison Information also stated: "The number of poisoned people who have been admitted to the hospital due to taking rice pills has also been decreasing, and this decrease is evident. Of course, not even a single case of this poisoning should be observed. Because the distribution, purchase, and sale of this poison for home use is prohibited nationwide and is considered a smuggled product, and its purchase, sale, and use are punishable."

Poison, a smuggling that is taking life in Iran

Behmanesh added: "Of course, since its smuggling still exists, the ignorance and inattention of some families to the dangers of domestic consumption of this poison has unfortunately made our country one of the few countries in the world where deaths from this poison have been reported. At the same time, fortunately, with the training of the Food and Drug Administration and the preventive measures of the universities of medical sciences and the police in collecting this smuggled poison, the trend of reducing poisoning with rice tablets is cause for joy."

Finally, he advised people to contact the Drug and Poison Information Center by calling the two-digit code 1490 or to call the emergency number 115 when faced with poisoning.

Source: ISNA