ADOLESCENTS MISPERCEPTIONS OF THE DANGEROUSNESS OF ACETAMINOPHEN IN OVERDOSE

Clinical observations suggest that adolescents commonly and naively us e acetaminophen in suicide attempts even when they do not wish to die. It is estimated that 18 500-mg acetaminophen tablets can lead to hepa totoxicity, while death is usually associated with ingestion of 50 or more tablets. A sample comprising 569 adolescent students completed an author-designed survey assessing teenagers' knowledge of acetaminophe n's therapeutic and harmful effects. The findings support our original data that adolescents have ready access to acetaminophen and use it i n suicide attempts, but underestimate its potential for toxicity. fort y-two percent of this sample underestimated the dose to cause harm, be lieving it would require 20 or more tablets, and 50% underestimated th e dose to cause death, stating 100 or more pills would be necessary. A dolescents appear to seriously underestimate the dangerousness of acet aminophen in overdose, and lack knowledge regarding side effects of ov erdose.