title: Investigation of drug-related deaths. An overview.
abstract: Drug-related deaths encompass fatal overdoses, the medical derangements from chronic consumption, and violent death from the alteration of normal behavioral patterns. Determining the extent to which a drug contributed to a death necessitates correlation of all aspects of the death investigation; autopsy and toxicologic findings must be interpreted in the light of antecedent events, medical and social history, and thorough scene investigation. The approach to the medicolegal investigation of drug-related deaths is discussed along with some legal ramifications and certain potential problems of death certification.
mesh_terms: D001344:Autopsy / Q000379:methods; D003042:Cocaine; D003645:Death, Sudden / Q000209:etiology*; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D000431:Ethanol / Q000032:analysis; D005554:Forensic Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D003932:Heroin; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D002189:Marijuana Abuse; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D013653:Tattooing; D014116:Toxicology / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D013287:Illicit Drugs; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D000431:Ethanol; D003932:Heroin; D003042:Cocaine