Barbiturates are one of the oldest central nervous system depressants. The high risk of death from barbiturate self-poisoning has been well documented. Recognition of this, together with their high dependence potential, led to discontinuation in routine prescribing of barbiturates for all but relatively rare indications.

In recent years, there have been increasing evidence of pentobarbitone-related deaths (a type of barbiturate) particularly among professionals employed in veterinarian medicine. This seminar presents the trends and characteristics of barbiturate deaths in Australia from 2000-2019.

Speaker Bio:

Dr Gabrielle Campbell, Senior Research Fellow
University of the Sunshine Coast

Fellowship recipient (2017-2021) and joined the University of the Sunshine Coast as Senior Research Fellow in 2020. Gabrielle previously worked at the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC), Faculty of Medicine, UNSW, since 2006.

Gabrielle's PhD, completed in 2016, focused on suicidal behaviours amongst people living with chronic non-cancer pain and has been crucial in identifying chronic non-cancer pain as a suicide risk-factor. Gabrielle's research interests include pharmaceutical opioids, opioid dependence and suicidal behaviours amongst people living with chronic non-cancer pain. She currently coordinates a large prospective study examining the benefits and outcomes of prescription opioids for chronic pain, the Pain and Opioids IN Treatment (POINT) study.