Norwegian hospitals see teenage Paracet and Ibux overdose admissions double

Innlandet Hospital in Lillehammer has sounded an alarm after admissions for Paracet and Ibux overdoses among adolescents nearly doubled, with roughly 90 cases recorded this year. Most patients are between 15 and 17 years old and have ingested whole packages of the drugs, often citing personal distress such as relationship problems or exam pressure. The hospital's child-and-teen ward chief, Kristian Holm, highlighted the concern, while the national poison centre also reports more calls from children aged 10-14.

Researchers, including Eva-Grethe Befus, have previously warned that Norwegian teens frequently use these over-the-counter painkillers to cope with mental-health challenges. Pharmacy sales data show a 49 % rise in paracetamol tablets over the past seven years, underscoring broader availability.