This study was designed to establish the role played by drugs in suicides among adolescents & young adults in Gorgan in northern Iran. A descriptive sutdy included all acutely poisoned patients referred to the emergency department over a 1-year period. Data was gathered using a questionnaire completed at the time of admission. Findings showed that 61.3% of all acute poisonings happened with drugs & drugs were involved in 72.1% of suicides, with most occurring in the age group, 14-19 years. (19 refs.)