[Fatal cases of poisoning in eastern Denmark during a five-year period (1998-2002)].
BACKGROUND
The goal of this investigation was to determine the pattern of fatal poisonings in eastern Denmark from 1998 to 2002 and compare it with similar investigations from 1979 to 1996.


METHODS
The material included 2,996 autopsies from eastern Denmark in which extensive forensic chemical investigations were performed.


RESULTS
Of the 2,996 autopsies, 694 cases were drug addicts, in whom 497 fatal overdoses were detected, while in the remaining 2,302 cases of nonaddicts, 443 fatal poisonings were determined. Morphine (heroine) and methadone were the main causes of death among the fatal poisonings of the drug addicts, accounting for 90% of the cases. The fatal poisonings among the nonaddicts were due mainly to medicine (73% of the cases); 13% were due to carbon monoxide and/or cyanide poisoning, and 12% were due to acute ethanol poisoning. The medicine was a wide range of strong and weak analgesics, antidepressants and antipsychotic drugs of older and newer origins. Comparison with earlier investigations from 1979 to 1996 showed that the poisoning pattern had changed, but similarities were also seen. The most frequently occurring drugs involved in fatal poisonings in eastern Denmark from 1979 to 2002 were morphine, methadone, ethanol and carbon monoxide/cyanide, of which methadone increased in occurrence over the 23-year period.


CONCLUSIONS
The investigation of fatal poisonings is an important element in monitoring changes in drug abuse and poisoning patterns and levels.
Johansen
Sys Stybe
SS
Københavns Universitet, Retsmedicinsk Institut, Retskemisk Afdeling. ssj@forensic.ku.dk
Jacobsen
Christina
C
Müller
Irene Breum
IB
Petersen
Henning Willads
HW
Simonsen
Kirsten Wiese
KW
Kringsholm
Birgitte
B
Steentoft
Anni
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality; D002249:Carbon Monoxide Poisoning / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality; D002423:Cause of Death; D002648:Child; D003486:Cyanides / Q000506:poisoning; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D062787:Drug Overdose / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D005554:Forensic Medicine; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000401:mortality; D011041:Poisoning / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality*
D003486:Cyanides