Information on all suicides & deaths due to undetermined causes among Swedish citizens, age 65 & older, during 1992-1996 were obtained. The types of drugs used in drug-related suicides were determined. A benzodiazepine was implicated in 39% of the drug poisoning suicides in this population & was the sole agent in 72% of these cases. In addition to the suicides classified as drug poisonings, 82 cases were found in which a drug may have contributed to the cause of death; benzodiazepines predominated. It is concluded benzodiazepines should be prescribed with caution for the elderly. (24 refs.)