The availability of paracetamol will be limited in Britain. (Representative photo)
The UK government plans to restrict the availability of over-the-counter medicines containing paracetamol to reduce the number of deaths by suicide. According to Sky News, this is part of the recently unveiled National Suicide Prevention Strategy. The document highlights how the decline in suicide deaths has stalled since 2018. The new policy also talks about a national alert system to highlight new methods of suicide in schools and colleges across the country, the newspaper said. The last such strategy was published more than a decade ago.
Under the policy, medical experts have been asked to assess whether reducing the amount of paracetamol people can buy in shops could help reduce suicide rates in Britain.
The Telegraph said people can currently buy up to two packs of medicines containing paracetamol, usually 16 500mg tablets.
But the government has asked the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to consider further action.
Ministers in Britain have pledged to reduce suicide rates in England within two and a half years.
A 2018 study published by Cambridge University Press said paracetamol is the most common drug used for self-poisoning in Britain and has been linked to fatal liver damage.
The study was based on the analysis of data from 80 patients in hospitals using a structured interview schedule, measures of depression and suicidal intent, information collected through the Oxford Monitoring System for Attempted Suicide, along with the results of liver function tests.
The National Health Service (NHS) said more than 5,000 people die by suicide every year, adding that the service receives 200,000 calls to crisis lines every month.
