Sudden death of a heroin body packer.
This report documents an unusual case in which the analysis of postmortem specimens from a female heroin body packer revealed phenomenally high concentrations of morphine, 6-monoacetylmorphine (6-MAM), caffeine, and codeine. Several condoms containing white powder had split, emptied their contents into the stomach, and then leaked into the peritoneum through a rupture in the stomach wall. Blood concentrations were: morphine, 120 mg/L; (6-MAM), 184 mg/L; codeine, 1.7 mg/L; and caffeine, 400 mg/L.
D003061:Codeine / Q000097:blood; D003645:Death, Sudden / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D003932:Heroin / Q000506:poisoning*; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D009020:Morphine / Q000097:blood; D009022:Morphine Derivatives / Q000097:blood; D013275:Stomach Rupture / Q000209:etiology
D013287:Illicit Drugs; D009022:Morphine Derivatives; D003932:Heroin; D009020:Morphine; C026979:6-O-monoacetylmorphine; D003061:Codeine