title: Comparison of drug abuse fatalities and emergencies.
abstract: During a 9-month period, drug abuse emergencies were investigated prospectively and compared with drug-related fatalities of the same period. The emergency patients were of younger age, the proportion of women and the prevalence of infections with HIV, HBV and HCV was higher than in drug-related deaths. Additional alcohol consumption was similar in both groups but more frequent in drug-addict emergencies where the patients were 20-30 years of age. It is suggested that the emergency patients might characterise a special risk group of drug addicts and might be a target for interventional help to prevent fatalities.
authors.affiliation: Universität Hamburg, Institut für Rechtsmedizin, Germany.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Schulz-Schaeffer
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schmoldt
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Püschel
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D004630:Emergencies; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality* / Q000517:prevention & control