Analysis of acute drug poisonings was made using materials available at the Saint Petersburg Toxicological Center for the period of 10 years. The indicated poisonings became two times more frequent and in 1989 accounted for 76% of the total number of intoxications. Poisonings with tranquilizers ranked first in frequency, then followed antihistamine drugs, neuroleptics and hypnotics. There was an increase in the percentage of hemiton poisonings, which turned out lethal in 1.6-3% of cases. In most cases, the drugs were taken to commit suicide, more rarely they were used to have or to potentiate the effects of alcoholic euphoria. Among women, poisonings were encountered three times more often than among men.