ABSTRACT:
Exogenous drug poisonings are a significant public health problem, linked to external causes, and may result from inappropriate use, therapeutic errors, self-medication, or suicide attempts; in Brazil, they are compulsorily notifiable conditions.¹ The objective is to describe the epidemiological profile of exogenous drug poisonings recorded in Bahia, Brazil, between 2013 and 2024. This is a descriptive, retrospective, population-based study using secondary data from the Notifiable Health Conditions Information System. All cases reported during the period were included, and sociodemographic variables, circumstances of exposure, clinical outcomes, and spatial distribution by Regional Health Center were analyzed. Data quality was assessed in terms of incompleteness, and the analysis was conducted using incidence rates, absolute and relative frequencies, with temporal stratification and spatial analysis. Approximately 29,000 cases were recorded, with an increasing trend in notifications over the years. There was a predominance of females and a higher occurrence among adolescents and young adults, especially those aged 15 to 39 years, in addition to a relevant proportion of children under 10 years of age. Most cases progressed to recovery without sequelae, although there was an increase in records with unknown outcomes in more recent years. Suicide attempts were the main circumstance of poisoning, particularly among women, followed by accidental events and self-medication. The spatial distribution was heterogeneous, with persistently higher incidences in the Eastern Regional Health Center and expansion to other regions, while variables such as race/skin color and education level showed high incompleteness. The findings highlight the interface between drug poisonings and mental health, as well as household risks associated with unsafe medication use. It is concluded that this is a growing health condition in Bahia, requiring strengthened surveillance, improved data quality, and integration between primary care, mental health services, and health surveillance for prevention and comprehensive care.