The overdose process - adolescents' experiences of taking an overdose and their contact with services

Paracetamol is widely used by adolescents who take an overdose, according to research undertaken among 43 adolescents admitted to the Children's Hospital in Birmingham, England, following an overdose. In most cases, adolescents were undergoing several complex psychosocial challenges when they overdosed. Many welcomed being treated in a friendly and non-judgemental manner by hospital staff, and making adolescents feel that they are being taken seriously appears to be extremely valuable in preventing further overdoses.