[Deaths among drug addicts in Denmark. A forensic medical study of deaths among drug addicts during the period 1991-1992 related to the period 1984-1985].
This study includes all deaths among drug addicts in the years 1991 (n = 219) and 1992 (n = 214) investigated at the three institutes of forensic medicine in Denmark. The results are compared with deaths among drug addicts in 1984-1985. The number of deaths among drug addicts increased by approximately 50% in 1991-1992 compared with 1984-1985. The increase was most significant among drug addicts over 35 years of age. The cause of death was intoxication in three-quarters of the cases in 1991-1992. In half of these cases heroin/morphine had caused death, while intoxications caused by methadone accounted for approximately 30% of the cases. In the metropolitan area the frequency of methadone intoxications increased significantly compared with 1984-1985, whereas the number of heroin/morphine intoxications did not change. Outside the metropolitan area, however, a significant increase in heroin/morphine intoxications was noticed. In all parts of the country the number of propoxyphene intoxications decreased to a few annual cases. The most commonly used drugs of abuse were heroin/morphine, diazepam and methadone, often in combination with alcohol.
Steentoft
A
A
Københavns Universitet, Retsmedicinsk Institut, retskemisk afdeling.
Kaa
E
E
Simonsen
K W
KW
Kringsholm
B
B
Worm
K
K
Hansen
A C
AC
Toft
J
J
Dragsholt
C
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002423:Cause of Death; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D062787:Drug Overdose; D005260:Female; D005554:Forensic Medicine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009021:Morphine Dependence / Q000401:mortality; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000401:mortality*
Narkomandødsfald i Danmark. En retsmedicinsk undersøgelse af narkomandødsfald 1991-1992 relateret til 1984-1985.