ABSTRACT
To see the common types of poisonings reported to the forensic toxicology laboratory at Peshawar, NWFP, Pakistan. The study was conducted at the Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Khyber Medical College Peshawar where records of toxicological analyses for the year 2004 were obtained. A total of 152 toxilogical analyses were done in a year. Of the total 68 samples were from autopsy cases and 84 from suspected cases of alcohol intoxication. Poisons of various types were detected in 32/68 [47.%] autopsies, while alcohol was detected in 56/84 [66.6%] cases of intoxication. All cases were males and sedative/narcotic drug abuse was the most common cause of death by poisoning [68.7% of fatal poisonings]. Majority of alcohol intoxication cases [92.86%] were referred from hospitals of Peshawar rather than police stations. Poisoning and alcohol abuse constitute a significant health hazard and cause for public concern. Informed interventions are recommended to address the problem