This review analyzes a body of research conducted by the author & his colleagues between 1983 & 1993 on the effects of limiting access to lethal methods for suicide & homicide. Results provide evidence that limiting access to a preffered method has a preventive effect, more clearly so for suicide than for homicide. However, there was also evidence that some switching of method may take place after limiting access to another, again more clearly for suicide than for homicide. Implications for future research are discussed. (60 refs)