Toxicology and circumstances of death of homicide victims in New South Wales, Australia 1996-2005.
To determine the prevalence and circumstances of psychoactive substances amongst homicide victims, 485 consecutive cases autopsied at the NSW Department of Forensic Medicine (1/1/1996-12/31/2005) were analyzed. Substances were detected in 62.6% of cases, and illicit drugs in 32.8%. Alcohol, cannabis, opioids, and psychostimulants were most commonly detected. Alcohol and cannabis were both more prevalent amongst males. Mean ages were significantly younger for decedents who tested positive for a substance and for an illicit drug. Cases where death resulted from a physical altercation were more likely to have had alcohol and cannabis present. Illicit drugs were prominent amongst firearms deaths. The proportion of alcohol positive cases increased from 25.0% on Monday to 49.4% for Saturdays/Sundays. Alcohol was more common in incidents in the 0001-0600 h and 1800-2400 h periods. Psychoactive substances appear to substantially increase the risk of homicide, although there are important differences between drug classes in the circumstances of such incidents.
Darke
Shane
S
National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. s.darke@unsw.edu.au
Duflou
Johan
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000032:analysis; D002188:Cannabis; D002423:Cause of Death; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000032:analysis; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D053593:Forensic Toxicology; D006708:Homicide; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008722:Methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D009294:Narcotics / Q000032:analysis; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013997:Time Factors
D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D009294:Narcotics; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D000431:Ethanol