This review of barbiturate use in the United Kingdom from 1911 to 1962 revealed the following: suicidal deaths from barbiturate overdose increased from 104 during 1941-50 to 735 during 1958-62, & for accidental deaths from 60 to 285; since 1943 the female suicide rate from barbiturates has exceeded the male; women 45-64 have the highest suicide rate from barbiturate poisoning. The authors claim actual cases of barbiturate poisoning may have been nearly 10000 by 1959. 13 ref.