Re-engineering packaging to prevent suicide

Barbara Glickstein is co-director of the Center for Health, Media & Policy.

photo credit: Richard Malley www.richmalley.com

In today’s New York Times Opinionator blog,  Ezekiel J. Emanuel’s A Simple Way to Reduce Suicides argues for changing the packaging of Tylenol from 50-100 pills in a bottle to blister packs as a measure to decrease suicides.  He suggests that blister packs, being more labor-intensive and time-consuming to get the right dosage for toxicity, add a time-delay that potentially could stop the suicide from happening. This impact could contribute to the saving of thousands of lives each year.

A mental health professional posted a comment online comparing it to a speed bump in the road slowing down the suicide attempt.  This pause in the action may create the emotional mind-space for them to reconsider their actions. Maybe even get some help.

The comments section mainly includes outcries by environmentalists because blister packaging increases waste and arthritis sufferers dependent on Tylenol for symptom management who struggle with this type of packaging due to their restricted mobility and aching joints. Then there are those who cry out stop the nanny state. They just want to be left alone.