This study sought to determine patients’ awareness of the toxicity of the drugs they had used to overdose, the source of these drugs, & whether they would have taken them had they been fully aware of their toxicity. A prospective review was done of 100 consecutive overdoses admitted through an accident & emergency department. Overall awareness of toxicity was low. 28 patients said they would not have overdosed if they had been aware of the toxicity of what they had taken. 49% of patients took some else’s tablets. Implications of these findings for prevention are examined. (13 refs.)