NCJ Number
147520
Journal
Journal of Prison and Jail Health Volume: 12 Issue: 1 Dated: (Summer 1993) Pages: 3-12
Date Published
1993
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This paper describes several cases in which jail inmates ingested two depilatory products containing barium sulfide as the toxic component; one of the cases resulted in a fatality and illustrates the importance of preventing inmate suicides by restricting the use of toxic products.
Abstract
The two products are Royal Crown Shaving Powder and Magic Shave Shaving Powder. The ingestion cases all took place in the Cook County (Ill.) short-term correctional facility, a 7,000-bed facility in Chicago. A significant number of the facility's black inmates use shaving powders and creams as depilatories instead of razor blades, which are known to cause razor bumps. Both black and white inmates have ingested the depilatories in suicide attempts. To predict toxicity, clinicians need to determine which depilatory product has been ingested. In addition, correctional health care personnel must carefully screen newly incarcerated inmates or those who have received negative court outcomes. Finally, potentially toxic products should be restricted or replaced with safer products in this high-risk population. Case examples, table, and 18 references (Author abstract modified)