title: Toxicology and characteristics of fatal oxycodone toxicity cases in New South Wales, Australia 1999-2008.
abstract: All cases of fatal oxycodone toxicity presenting to the New South Wales Department of Forensic Medicine over the period January 1, 1999, to December 31, 2008, were retrieved. A total of 70 cases were identified. The mean age was 48.9 years, 58.6% were men, 21.4% were suicides, and in 30% oxycodone had not been prescribed to the decedent. Injecting drug users constituted 27.1% of cases, and oxycodone tablets were injected immediately prior to death by 21.4%. The mean blood oxycodone concentration was 0.40 mg/L (range 0.06-53.00 mg/L). In all cases, psychoactive substances other than oxycodone were also detected, most frequently hypnosedatives (68.6%), other opioids (54.3%), antidepressants (41.4%), and alcohol (32.9%). Preexisting systemic disease was common: cardiovascular (64.2%), pulmonary (49.3%), hepatic (66.7%), and renal (43.9%).
authors.affiliation: National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
authors.forename: Shane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Darke
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Duflou
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Torok
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood / Q000506:poisoning*; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D053593:Forensic Toxicology; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D010098:Oxycodone / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood / Q000506:poisoning*; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000097:blood; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013405:Suicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs; D010098:Oxycodone