The relationship between alcohol dependence, alcohol consumption and parasuicide was studied among patients admitted over a twenty year period (1968-87) to a regional poisoning treatment centre in Edinburgh. Both alcohol dependence and consumption of alcohol at the time of the parasuicidal act were reported more commonly by men than by women. An examination of temporal trends showed little change among male patients, while the proportion of females diagnosed as alcohol dependent or consuming alcohol at the time of the act tended to increase over time. A comparison of alcohol dependent (AD) and non-alcohol dependent (non-AD) parasuicides over the period 1982-87 revealed differences in respect of sociodemographic characteristics (the AD group containing more unemployed, especially long term) clinical variables (the AD group being more likely to have acted suicidally and to have received psychiatric treatment in the past, yet less likely to be currently diagnosed psychiatrically ill), family features and social problems. The implications of the study findings for research and service delivery are mentioned.